The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed strong disapproval of the Osun State government’s decision to deploy 1,750 members of the Imole Youth Corps as classroom teachers, describing the move as a threat to the quality of education in the state.

In a statement issued by its Southwest (Zone D) Secretary General, Comrade Oluwole Aboke, the students’ body condemned what it called the politicisation of a vital sector, arguing that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration was sacrificing educational standards on the altar of financial convenience.

Governor Adeleke had recently approved the deployment of the Imole Youth Corps members to public schools, citing financial constraints that have delayed the mass recruitment of qualified teachers. However, NANS described this step as a “painful betrayal” to thousands of young graduates who had earlier applied, paid fees, and undergone screening processes for the now-abandoned recruitment exercise.

“Teaching is not a stopgap job for political appointees,” Aboke said. “It is a noble profession that demands passion, proper training, certification, and continuous professional development—none of which were required of the Imole Youth Corps before they were posted to classrooms.”

He warned that the decision undermines the integrity of the teaching profession and could severely affect the learning experience of Osun students, who deserve to be taught by well-trained, qualified professionals.

NANS is demanding that the state government halt the current deployment and initiate a transparent, merit-based recruitment process that upholds the dignity of the teaching profession. The association also called on education stakeholders, parents, professional bodies, and civil society groups to reject what it termed a shortcut that compromises educational standards.

“Osun students will not be guinea pigs in the name of cost-saving measures,” the statement concluded. “If the government is truly committed to education, it must invest in it—not cut corners.”