“Future at Risk!” – NANS Slams Gov. Adeleke Over Deployment of 1,750 Untrained Teachers in Osun

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has launched a scathing attack on Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, over the recent deployment of 1,750 untrained youths to public schools as teachers. The move, which has sparked outrage across various sectors, is being described by the student body as not only a gross violation of educational standards but a dangerous gamble with the future of Osun State’s children.

NANS, in an official statement, called the governor’s decision a “reckless experiment” that undermines the quality of education and jeopardizes the intellectual growth of students. According to the student body, the act of deploying individuals without adequate pedagogical training into classrooms is tantamount to academic sabotage, one that could leave long-term scars on the already fragile education system in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the students, NANS Vice President for External Affairs, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde, did not mince words in his condemnation. “What Governor Adeleke has done is criminal. Education is not an all-comers affair. You don’t wake up one morning and think you can throw just anyone into a classroom and expect results. These are children, not guinea pigs,” he declared angrily.

Babatunde went on to question the rationale behind the deployment. “How can a government that claims to prioritize education commit such a blunder? Teaching is not about standing in front of a blackboard and shouting. It is a science, a craft, and a calling. It requires method, training, patience, and professionalism. By pushing untrained youths into these positions, the governor is not just failing the students—he’s robbing them of their right to quality education,” he added.

Sources within the Osun State Ministry of Education revealed that the deployment was part of an emergency employment scheme initiated by the Adeleke administration to reduce youth unemployment. However, critics argue that this approach is not only ill-conceived but also extremely dangerous. According to educational experts, training teachers takes time, resources, and discipline, all of which are necessary to shape minds and guide academic development. By bypassing this process, they say, the government is effectively reducing the classroom to a dumping ground for political expediency.

Parents, too, are beginning to speak out in concern. One parent, Mrs. Aina Olufunke, whose son attends a public secondary school in Ede, expressed deep fear over the development. “This is not the change we were promised,” she lamented. “When we voted for Governor Adeleke, we expected reforms that would improve the quality of schools, not drag them further down. Now my son is being taught by someone who probably doesn't even know how to write a proper lesson plan.”

The controversy has also begun to draw attention from national education bodies. The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has reportedly summoned an emergency meeting to deliberate on the situation, with insiders hinting at possible industrial action if the state government does not reverse the deployment. A senior official in the union, who asked to remain anonymous, said the NUT would not sit by and watch the sanctity of the teaching profession be trampled for political reasons.

Ironically, Osun State had been lauded in previous administrations for attempts to improve the educational sector, with programs targeted at increasing teacher training and integrating technology into classrooms. This latest move, however, threatens to undo whatever progress had been made. Analysts say the decision could also further widen the gap between public and private education in the state, creating an unequal society where only the children of the wealthy have access to qualified teachers.

Governor Adeleke has yet to publicly respond to the backlash, but sources close to the Osun Government House claim the governor believes the deployment is only temporary and that the youths will be given training “on the job” as they begin teaching. Critics say that explanation is not only insufficient but also dangerous, as it fails to recognize the damage that could be done in even one term of academic misdirection.

In response to that defense, NANS countered by saying that on-the-job training may work for other sectors but not education. “A mistake in a bank can be corrected. An error in a law court can be appealed. But once you fail a child in education, that mistake may follow them for life,” said Comrade Babatunde. “We are calling on the governor to retract this decision immediately. If he fails to do so, we will mobilize students and education advocates across the country to protest until the right thing is done.”

Some civil society organizations have also joined the call for reversal. The Education Reform Network, a non-governmental organization based in Lagos, released a statement describing the move as “educational genocide” and called on the Federal Ministry of Education to intervene. “This is no longer just an Osun issue,” said Dr. Margaret Aghogho, the group’s executive director. “If one state gets away with this, others will follow suit, and before long, the entire nation will be suffering the consequences of educational recklessness.”

Meanwhile, social media has been buzzing with reactions. Hashtags like #ProtectOsunStudents and #UntrainedTeachers have been trending on X (formerly Twitter), with thousands of Nigerians expressing anger, disappointment, and disbelief. Some users even posted photos of classroom sessions allegedly being handled by the newly deployed untrained teachers, with visible signs of confusion and disorder in the learning environment.

A political analyst, Mallam Idris Kareem, told The Nation that the backlash could become a political liability for the Adeleke administration. “The governor has enjoyed considerable goodwill since coming into office, but this move may haunt him for a long time. Education is a very sensitive issue in Nigeria, and mishandling it is a sure way to lose the people’s trust,” he warned.

As the criticism continues to pile up, it remains to be seen whether the Osun State government will backtrack on the deployment or double down on its controversial strategy. What is clear, however, is that the backlash is growing by the hour and the nation is watching closely. In a country already grappling with falling educational standards, the question on everyone’s mind is: can Nigeria really afford to experiment with its children’s future?