Nigerians have condemned the improper signing-out photos shared online by certain teenage students celebrating the end of their examination.
Viral pictures that have attracted backlash from many Nigerians show students of a yet-to-be-identified secondary school celebrating the end of their West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, in a strange manner.
In the picture observed by our correspondent, two teenage graduates were seen holding their female classmates in a bizarre manner.
Smiling with glee, the students posed for the camera while fondling the breasts of their colleagues, an act that has attracted condemnation from Nigerians.
Our correspondent observed the reactions of Nigerians to the viral pictures, with many blaming the moral decadence among students on parents, schools, the internet, and peer pressure.
In his reaction to the pictures of the students, a social media commentator, Chidomere Ndubuisi, bemoaned the indiscipline among teenagers in the country.
He blamed parents for allowing their children and wards to have easy access to the internet. These, according to him, have infiltrated the minds of young schoolgoers.
Ndubuisi said, ”When I saw these pictures of some young students celebrating after their final exams, my heart became heavy.
“They might not be bad children, ooh, but this picture reveals a deeper question.
”What are we teaching our children about value, dignity, boundaries, and self-respect?
”Many parents today are working hard to give their children good schools, good phones, good clothes, and comfortable lives.
“But who is teaching them character? Who is teaching them self-control? Who is teaching them honor?
”Who is teaching them how to treat the opposite sex with dignity and respect?
”It is a norm that children are not raised by parents alone anymore.
The internet is now a parent. TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook are now parents.
YouTube is now a parent. Friends are now parents. Celebrities are now parents.
”And if we don’t intentionally raise our children, the world will gladly raise them for us.
”The challenge is not that these children finished WAEC.
”The challenge is what they believe success, fun, popularity, and maturity look like.
”Many young people are growing up in a culture that celebrates attention more than character.
“A culture that rewards visibility more than values. A culture that teaches them how to go viral before teaching them how to become valuable.
”Parents, please hear me… Your greatest responsibility is not paying school fees.
”Your greatest responsibility is shaping human beings; have conversations with your children.
“Read with them, pray with them, travel with them, and let them work with you as I work with my own children. Let them see how responsible adults think.
“Let them learn respect before they learn trends. Allow them to learn discipline before they learn entertainment.
“It’s important they learn purpose before they learn popularity because if character is not built early, talent can become dangerous.
”Freedom without wisdom becomes destruction.
”The goal is not to raise children who simply pass WAEC but to raise children who can pass the test of life.
“And that assignment belongs to all of us… teachers, parents, religious leaders, mentors, business leaders, etc.
”The future Nigeria we complain about tomorrow is sitting in somebody’s house today.
”Let’s not just raise educated children but raise responsible children.”
In his reaction, Favour Akam noted that “Education without character is a dangerous advantage.”
He added that a child may pass exams, master technology, and gain popularity, but if they lack values, wisdom, and self-respect, society eventually pays the price.
”The future is not shaped by what children know alone, but by who they become.”
He urged parents to raise their children to become responsible adults.
“Parents must raise more than successful students; they must raise responsible adults,” he added.
For Sanusi Ayodele, he alleged that parents are corrupt too; as such, they cannot raise responsible children.
Parents must raise responsible adults. The same parents, the same you, and every adult whose level of corruption and moral bankruptcy destroyed this nation are now preaching morals. The same civil servants who joined hands with the politicians to abuse office are the parents of this generation, and you suddenly expect a change and morally upright children in this generation. Please, who is raising them?
“They are a product of their parents and society, so don’t expect a sudden change,” he said.
Sadiya Sobur described as ”unfortunate” the moral decadence in the country.
”It’s so unfortunate how life is as of today.
”I can’t imagine how I will feel to pass through my lecturers without helping them with their loads or greet them seconds after seconds.
As a well-trained child, I believe that attitude and character are all what someone who wants to be great in life should possess.
”Unfortunately again, I’ve not seen any student on my campus doing the same.
Are they not well trained, or do they believe they are too much for such tasks?
”Or even think, maybe we are in the university?”
She applauded her parents for raising her righteously.
”On this note, I say kudos to my parents for building me to become who I am today,” she added.
She also revealed that “attitude and character can be a determinant of our progress and success in life.”
Emmanuel Uwotu blames the influence of social media on young students when he says, ”So sad, social media has made everyone believe that life is all about having money.
”So virtually everyone is running after money, neglecting the very things that make money valuable.
”The crash in a moment is going to be loud.
But those who keep to character, value, and integrity will remain standing.”
For Halimot Temitope, she blamed the rpt among students on the failure of schools to teach students ”character.
Temitope said, ”School can teach children how to pass exams, but character is what helps them pass the test of life.”
However, she noted that “Parents, teachers, mentors, and society all have a role to play. If we focus only on education and ignore values, we’re leaving a dangerous gap.”
Nzubechukwu Ezieke blamed the prevalence of such unruly behavior among students on the absence of proper discipline in schools.
She lamented that students are no longer punished in schools when they err.
“The moments Cane was set aside in school were the same time school lost its morals. During my time, there were few bad kids, but they were not bold like this. Previously, parents went to school to report you to your teachers; a public discipline would be executed to teach others a lesson. Now parents go to school to fight teachers; we lost discipline the moment the cane was removed. Ezieke stated.
For Senior Aanu, he applauded the Ogun State government for banning signing-out celebrations in the state.
“I love what the Ogun State government did; they banned any form of graduation/end of session party ceremony (I’m not sure if signing out activities is also included). If other states can emulate this, then things will still be under control. I know of states like Oyo that banned signing out.
“If we can’t write to the necessary authority, we can tag those who can help us write to or reach them. As we are pointing out the problem, let us also point out the possible solutions.
“You may want to look into this if the ban on sign-out in secondary schools is not effective in all states,” he wrote.
Young Stars Counseling and Mentorship Academy called for proper sexual education for students.
The academy noted that while parents may not entirely be blamed for such conduct by students, “adolescents need sexuality education, body intelligence, emotional intelligence, and spiritual intelligence.”
The academy added that you might be intentional as a parent, but your child is going through developmental changes that require education, skills, and training to understand and master.
The academy called for more parental presence in the lives of their children.
“Your presence, connection, and love are essential for your child’s wholesome transition into adulthood.”
It also demanded strict vigilance of all electronic gadgets parents allow their children to operate.
“Thirdly, parents need to know how to support their children in adolescence.
“Before handling a device over to your child, ask yourself if it’s necessary to do so.
A child in secondary school doesn’t need an Android phone if there are no cybersecurity codes in it. A simple touchlight phone at home for answering calls or intercom is recommended. There must be supervision,” the academy stated.
“Your child needs counseling outside of the house and mentorship to reinforce your values. These are all essential aspects of their transition,” it added.
While the Sokoto and Ogun state governments have banned signing out celebrations in the states, the moral decadence displayed by students during such celebrations keeps growing unabated.
The words of multi-award-winning Nigerian singer Asa in her song “Fire on the Mountain” point to the moral decline in society when she asks, “Who is responsible for what we teach our children? Is it the internet or the stars on television?”
