The Sokoto State Government has officially banned all signing-out celebrations by graduating secondary school students, citing concerns over rising indiscipline, vandalism, and public disorder.
Announcing the directive on Thursday, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ahmad Ladan Ala, said the celebratory tradition has strayed from its original purpose and now poses a threat to educational values and public decorum.
“This practice undermines discipline, academic focus, and responsible student conduct,” Prof. Ala stated, adding that the ban applies to both public and private schools across the state.
All school principals have been instructed to enforce the directive immediately, while parents and guardians are urged to discourage their children from participating in such celebrations.
The directive, signed by the Director of Examination Matters, Abubakar Abdullahi, emphasizes full compliance by heads of secondary schools.
The signing-out tradition, common across Nigeria, typically involves final-year students celebrating their exam completion by writing farewell notes on their uniforms and engaging in public festivities. However, authorities have raised concerns over its increasing rowdiness and disruption of public peace.
