The West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, results and testimonials of some graduating secondary school students in Ondo State have been withheld over misconduct during the completion of their final exams.
The Ondo State Government disclosed that the penalty became imperative following the involvement of 17 graduating students in chaotic and undisciplined behaviour.
According to the State Ministry of Education, the affected students were caught in a viral video tearing their school uniforms and chanting strange slogans upon completion of their final paper.
The culprits were identified as students of Oyemekun Grammar School, Aquinas Secondary School, and CAC Grammar School, all in Akure, the state capital.
A video on TikTok and Facebook from a few days ago went viral in the state, with some students of the affected schools seen causing chaos in some parts of the Akure metropolis, a development that has sparked widespread public outrage.
During an emergency meeting with school administrators and government officials, the ministry, through the Commissioner for Education, Igbekele Ajibefun, disclosed that the names of the identified 17 students will be entered into the “black book” of their respective schools.
Ajibefun added that principals have been directed to open a “black book” for student misconduct, and senior officers at the affected schools have received official queries for failing to adequately supervise and allowing the celebrations to degenerate into lawlessness.
“For those in the video who are not in the terminal class, the Ministry has directed that they be expelled from school immediately.
The Commissioner further advised all parents to consistently counsel their children against actions that could mar their futures.
According to him, the measures taken by the Ministry will serve as a deterrent to other students who might consider engaging in similar acts in the future.
Speaking with newsmen after the disciplinary hearing, Ajibefun emphasised that while celebrating academic milestones is natural, the government maintains zero tolerance for activities that damage the moral fabric and reputation of the state’s educational 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 clout.
“We must defend the integrity of our education system in the state. We will not allow those who are not ready to be in school to disturb our institutions.”
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Akindele Ige, advised principals to proactively share information with the Zonal Education Office and the Ministry to address unrest before it escalates.
Parents and the graduating students involved have been summoned to the Ministry today to receive their official punishment letters.
