The Ondo State Government has sanctioned 17 finishing secondary school students by keeping their West African Senior Citizen School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results and school reviews following a viral sign-out video that showed acts of indiscipline during post-examination events in Akure.
The affected trainees were drawn from 3 public secondary schools in the state capital– Oyemekun Grade school, Aquinas College and CAC Grammar School. The trainees were captured in a video supposedly tearing their school uniforms, chanting improper slogans and taking part in disorderly conduct after finishing the 2026 WASSCE.
The sanctions were revealed after an emergency meeting convened by the Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation with administrators of the impacted schools at the ministry’s headquarters in Akure.
As part of the disciplinary steps, the state federal government directed that the WASSCE results and main testimonials of the identified trainees be kept forever. Their names have actually also been entered into a misconduct register, widely referred to as a “black book,” to document disciplinary infractions. The government further bought all secondary school principals throughout the state to establish similar records for future cases of misbehavior.
In addition, authorities bought the immediate expulsion of any trainee included in the viral video who was not a member of the graduating class. Senior officers in the impacted schools were equally issued inquiries for supposed lapses in guidance that enabled the celebrations to degenerate into disorder.
Speaking on the advancement, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Innovation, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, stated the government would not endure actions capable of undermining discipline and tarnishing the reputation of schools in the state.
Ajibefun acknowledged that trainees have the right to celebrate the completion of their assessments however stressed that such events must be carried out properly and within acceptable standards. He expressed issue over the growing “sign-out” culture among secondary school trainees, cautioning that it needs to not become a reason for rowdy behaviour or a mission for social media attention.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Akindele Ige, likewise urged school principals to immediately report disruptive occurrences to relevant education authorities before they escalate. Parents and impacted students have apparently been invited to the ministry to receive official interaction on the sanctions.