Charterhouse's N30 million school fees are sparking fresh debate among Nigerians
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Charterhouse, a British independent school located in the Lekki area of Lagos State, has once again sparked controversy over its tuition fees, drawing criticism from Nigerians on social media.
According to their website, the Charterhouse Family of Schools has been a leading name in British education for over 400 years. The Lagos campus, the first African branch of Charterhouse UK, accepted its first cohort of students in September 2024, for students from the first to the sixth year.
The school had already faced criticism in April 2024 over its tuition fees, said to be N42 million per year, as well as a non-refundable registration fee of N2 million. This caused a widespread reaction, with many questioning the affordability of the institution for the average Nigerian family. The debate resurfaced on Thursday after a video shared on X.com by user #itzbasito, with the caption: "This is what the inside of the most expensive school in Lagos looks like. It costs 42 million naira per year."
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The video, attributed to Charterhouse, however, claimed that the school and accommodation cost less than 30 million New York. The post has since attracted more than 9,200 interactions on X.com, with many Nigerians criticizing the costs, saying that even 30 million naira is too high.
One user, #TheWaleOrire, tweeted on Friday: "If the government can't regulate primary school fees and secondary, how can we achieve universal standardised basic education? There is absolutely no reason for a secondary school in Nigeria to pay N42 million per year. »
He added: "This only widens the gap between the lower, middle and upper classes, turning education into a luxury for the rich rather than a right for every child. We need urgent reforms to address this disparity."
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• Front view of Charterhouse Lagos
Other users echoed similar sentiments, saying the school was primarily aimed at the wealthy elite.
#OAAdeniji wrote: "There is no way a person in Nigeria, earning in Naira, can pay N42 million per year for a high school student regardless of the field of study. This is beyond outrageous."
Another user, #toofighting, said: "You will find that the students are mostly children of immigrants and these fees are paid by the companies where their parents work. Most Nigerian parents cannot afford this amount out of pocket. »
Similarly, #rusticfunmi commented: "42 million naira per year just so some people can feel superior knowing their children will be taught by white people... sorry, "immigrants." »
On the other hand, some users defended the school, saying it caters to a certain segment of society.
#Arsenicscot tweeted: "They don't have the majority as their target market. All these complaints are about your money. When enrollment starts, the school will be full, there will be no shortage. The owners of the schools know the segment of the population they are targeting. They will not ask for students."
Another user, #Treazyblaq, added: "If they can afford it, why not? These schools offer more than just education; they are valuable for networking and making connections that can be beneficial in the future. It is an investment, not only in education, but also in opportunity and overall growth. »
The video also details the school's dormitory arrangements, specifying that students will share rooms with three others, each with their own bed and private space. This has raised additional criticism, with some questioning the value provided.
#SandraAdaeze4 said: "30 million naira a year to share a room with four other students." Similarly, #citiii added: "For this amount, there is no reason why every student should not have their room or, at worst, two per room. »
The Charterhouse website details its fee structure for foundation students, with tuition fees ranging from N16.1 million for years 1-2 to N24 million for year 9. The weekly boarding it costs an additional N5 million, while full boarding costs N7 million annually.
PUNCH reported in August 2024 that Charterhouse's founding director and head of education, John Todd, debunked misinformation about the school's tuition fees. "In April, there was an online backlash over our school fees, which sparked a lot of discussion, with some people reacting to the N42 million figure. I want to set the record straight: our school fees are currently N26 million, not N42 million. We have never charged N42 million," he said.
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