![\"\"](\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PAGE-5-Another-shirt-signed-by-the-learners-225x300.jpg\")
\u201cLife is funny, next year they will need that shirt, I do not understand why they cannot just give it to the ones in need of the shirt,\u201d commented one parent.
\u201cIt’s a once off thing, it’s one shirt let the kids make memories as they leave their high school years,\u201d commented another parent.
Worth mentioning the practice has parallels in other Southern African countries. In South Africa, for instance, matric learners often have their shirts or jackets signed by friends, classmates, and teachers during farewell events.
Some schools allow students to donate or preserve these items as part of school memorabilia programs.
Several learners shared their thoughts on the tradition. Thabiso Dlamini, a graduating pupil from Hhohho, said, Signing shirts is a way to remember friends and teachers.
\u201cWhen I look at all the messages later, I\u2019ll remember the laughs and the support over the years,\u201d Sibongile Mthethwa, another final-year pupil
\u201cI tore my shirt a little after everyone signed it. It feels like a rite of passage a small way to mark that this chapter is ending,\u201d said another pupil.
Others expressed more practical views, suggesting that shirts could be donated.
Lerato Nkambule said, she wanted to sign her shirt but also planned to give it to someone who needed it.
\u201cIt can be both a memory and a way to help someone else,\u201d she said.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, commented on the matter and said pupils should consider giving back.
\u201cSigning shirts is a way for students to celebrate their years in school and share memories with their classmates. We encourage learners to also consider giving back, such as donating shirts that can still be used, while enjoying this important milestone in their education journey,\u201d said Nxumalo.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PAGE-5-A-pupil-with-a-signed-shirt-225x300.jpg\")
School authorities reported that the tradition has grown steadily over recent years. Teachers said students often carry markers to classrooms on the last day of school, and messages can range from names and doodles to personal notes and inside jokes.
Parents and guardians attending farewell events noted the excitement and energy among pupils, describing the ritual as a memorable part of completing final exams.
Some parents, however, have requested guidance from schools on how to balance celebration with sustainability, particularly regarding the donation of shirts.
Meanwhile, Social welfare organisations on social media have also weighed in, emphasising awareness about resource use and community contribution, aligning with SNAT\u2019s call for imparting social etiquette and responsible habits.<\/p>\n
The practice continues to be observed widely across the country, with schools reporting both autographing and tearing of shirts as part of end-of-year activities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As Eswatini pupils completed their final exams this month, a growing number of students marked the occasion by…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,22,25,26],"tags":[46,60,73,48,58],"class_list":["post-5839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-africa","category-eswatini-daily-news","category-national","category-swaziland","tag-africa","tag-education","tag-eswatini","tag-feature","tag-national","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"\n