The Ondo State Government has sanctioned a group of secondary school students involved in a controversial “sign-out” celebration that went viral on social media, ordering the withholding of their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results and directing that their names be entered into official disciplinary records.
The disciplinary action followed the circulation of a video showing students from Oyemekun Grammar School, Aquinas Secondary School, and CAC Grammar School allegedly engaging in unruly conduct after completing the 2026 WASSCE. The footage, widely shared on platforms including TikTok and Facebook, captured scenes of students tearing school uniforms, chanting slogans, and participating in activities considered inappropriate by education authorities.
In response to the public outcry generated by the video, the Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology convened an emergency meeting in Akure involving top government officials, school administrators, and education stakeholders to review the incident and determine appropriate disciplinary measures.
Following deliberations, the Ministry announced a series of sanctions aimed at reinforcing discipline within public secondary schools and discouraging similar conduct among students across the state.
According to the Ministry, the official testimonials and WASSCE results of 17 students identified in the video will be withheld indefinitely pending further directives. In addition, the affected students will have their names recorded in what officials described as the “black book” of their respective schools, a disciplinary register intended to document serious cases of misconduct.
The Ministry also directed all secondary school principals across Ondo State to establish similar disciplinary records within their institutions as part of efforts to strengthen monitoring and behavioural control among students.
School administrators were not spared from the disciplinary measures. Senior officers in the affected schools were issued official queries for what the Ministry described as a failure to provide adequate supervision and prevent the celebrations from degenerating into acts of indiscipline.
Authorities further announced that any student featured in the viral video who is not a member of the graduating class would face immediate expulsion from school. The government maintained that such actions were necessary to preserve order and uphold acceptable standards of conduct within educational institutions.
Speaking after the disciplinary hearing, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, said the government recognised the excitement associated with completing secondary school examinations but insisted that celebrations must remain within acceptable boundaries.
Ajibefun warned that the increasing popularity of the “sign-out” culture among secondary school students was becoming a source of concern, particularly when such celebrations promote behaviour capable of damaging the image of schools and the wider education system.
“The growing sign-out culture among secondary school students must be guided by decency. We will not fold our arms and watch the discipline we have painstakingly instilled in our schools be eroded for the sake of social media attention,” the commissioner stated.
He stressed that the state government remains committed to protecting the integrity of its education system and would continue to take decisive action against acts capable of undermining discipline and moral values among learners.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Akindele Ige, also urged school principals to strengthen communication with Zonal Education Offices and relevant authorities whenever signs of unrest emerge within their schools. According to him, early reporting and intervention remain crucial in preventing minor incidents from escalating into major disciplinary challenges.
Meanwhile, parents of the affected students have been summoned alongside their children to appear before the Ministry to receive official letters detailing the sanctions imposed and the conditions attached to any future review of the disciplinary actions.
Education observers say the development has reignited debate over the growing influence of social media on student behaviour and the increasing popularity of sign-out celebrations in secondary schools across Nigeria. While some stakeholders support the government’s decision as a necessary deterrent, others have called for a balanced approach that combines discipline with counselling and behavioural reorientation.
For now, the Ondo State Government insists that the measures are intended not only to punish misconduct but also to send a clear message that actions capable of bringing schools into disrepute will attract consequences, regardless of the individuals involved.
