The University of Sierra Leone (USL), through its Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, has issued a firm directive prohibiting final-year students from organising or participating in signing-out activities on campus.
The decision aims to enforce university regulations and preserve order within the institution. Students have been instructed to fully comply and refrain from any such events on university premises.
In Sierra Leone, “signing-out” has become a popular tradition among final-year university students once they complete their last examinations. Celebrations often feature customised T-shirts, music, dancing, cake-cutting, photographs, and gifts from family and friends—sometimes including cash, vehicles, or other high-value items. While many view it as a joyful marker of the end of academic struggles, critics note that it is premature: results are not yet released, and graduation is not confirmed.
Similar gatherings have occasionally disrupted campus life elsewhere in West Africa, prompting bans or restrictions at several Nigerian universities over concerns about disorder, noise, and safety.
USL’s Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery—part of the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), plays a critical role in training the nurses and midwives Sierra Leone urgently needs to strengthen its healthcare system. By restricting on-campus signing-out, the Faculty seeks to maintain a focused academic environment and ensure students complete the remaining requirements of their programmes without disruption.
Final-year nursing and midwifery students are advised to respect the guidelines. Any planned celebrations should be held off campus and in a manner that does not interfere with university operations or other students’ studies. The Faculty has emphasised full cooperation with the administration’s decision.
This directive reflects USL’s broader efforts to uphold discipline and academic integrity across its campuses. Students are encouraged to channel their energy toward successful completion of their programmes and the official graduation ceremonies that properly mark the end of their university journey.
