Background: Public primary school teachers receive more stable remuneration and service benefits (e.g., pension, housing allowances, bonuses, and medical aid) than teachers in most private schools. However, private school teachers perform better in local and international assessments than their public school counterparts.Purpose of the study: There is limited research on how public and private primary school teachers differ in terms of employee engagement and organisational commitment in South Africa, which are associated with low learner outcomes and widespread teacher resignations. This study aimed to determine the empirical differences between public and private primary school teachers' employee engagement and organisational commitment. Moreover, this study ascertained the relationship between employee engagement and organisational commitment and assessed whether teachers' biographical variables influence employee engagement and organisational commitment.Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative correlational research design was used. Data were collected using both simple random and convenient sampling methods. The employee engagement questionnaire and organisational commitment scale were self-administered to 300 participants in a rural educational circuit in South Africa.Findings: The results revealed that public and private primary school teachers differed on only two employee engagement subscales. No significant differences were observed between public and private primary school teachers regarding organisational commitment. Significant relationships were observed between some dimensions of employee engagement and organisational commitment. Significant associations were observed between some dimensions of the measured constructs and biographic variables.Recommendations/value: Workplace intervention initiatives should focus on addressing work-related and organisational issues efficiently, as this could impact employee engagement and organisational commitment. This study is deemed the first of its kind where public and private primary school teachers were compared on the two constructs simultaneously in South Africa and, therefore, contributes to the literature.Managerial implications: In addressing low learner outcomes and teacher retention, this study encourages continued interventions that promote teacher engagement and commitment.