Recent viral videos of secondary school students celebrating the completion of their West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams have sparked outrage among parents and educators. In Ondo State, authorities intervened after students were filmed engaging in inappropriate public behavior, resulting in school-level sanctions.
The trend, known as “signing out,” originated in universities but has increasingly manifested as reckless public disturbances, vandalism, and substance abuse. What began as a tradition of signing farewell messages on classmates’ shirts has spiraled into uncontrolled chaos.
Ayopo Somefun, South-West Zonal Chairman of the Unity Colleges Parent-Teacher Association, expressed strong disapproval of these activities. He emphasized that the group is implementing a formal ban on such celebrations in unity colleges across the zone. He urged a shift toward productive post-exam activities like skills training and civic engagement, noting that discipline is a shared responsibility between homes and institutions.
Gbenga Ayetoba, General Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Lagos State Council, highlighted that systemic policy changes and eroding societal values have hindered teachers’ ability to maintain order. He argued that educators are frequently undermined by both government policies and parents, leaving them unable to effectively correct student behavior. Ayetoba advocated for a return to a system that empowers teachers and restores the traditional respect once afforded to the profession.
