The article has shown the problem of self-education of primary school teachers. It is established that modern requirements to the teacher put in the first place a systematic independent work on the development of professional competence, deepening its theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Self-education activity is defined as activity directed by a person that involves social and professional self-consciousness, willingness and ability to independently, knowingly acquire knowledge, skills, skills and competences in the professional field, gaining experience in building an individual educational way for successful professional activities in the context of life-long education. It has been revealed the requirements for the organization of self-education activity of the teacher of primary school, such as: systematic and consistent, continuous character of work, constant complication of the content and forms of self-education; integrated approach to the selection of the content and organization of the chosen problem; the completeness of self-education at each of its stages; the connection of self-education with practical activity, etc. It has been proved that the following principles are based on the organization of self-education of the teacher: integrity (continuity and systematic increase of professional competence throughout the entire pedagogical activity); activity (practical orientation of work); mobility (compliance of the contents of self-education with the level of professional competence); self-realization (implementation of internal capabilities and abilities); self-organization (the teacher's ability to efficiently organize his activity). The author of the article has outlined the structure of the process of self-education, which reflects the main stages of its organization. It is substantiated the role of self-education activity in improving the professional competence of elementary school teacher.