Lagos residents are fuming mad after a brand new school in Lekki, Charterhouse, revealed its annual tuition fees – a whopping N42 million for primary school students! Yes, you read that right. N42 MILLION!
On top of that, parents have to cough up an additional N2 million just to register their child. People are calling it outrageous, a waste of money, and completely unrealistic considering Nigeria’s current economic situation.
So, what exactly is Charterhouse offering for this eye-watering price? The school’s director says they’re a “world-class” institution with top-notch facilities that you won’t find anywhere else in Nigeria. They claim their education is the same quality as prestigious schools in the UK, but with the added bonus of being immersed in Nigerian culture.
The school isn’t even finished being built yet! Some Nigerians are scoffing at their claims, saying they’re all talk and no action. They’re also pointing out that there are already other expensive schools in Lagos, so why add another one that only the super-wealthy can afford?
The director is defending their sky-high fees by saying it’s all about value. He compares education to buying lunch – you can get a cheap meal, an average one, or a super fancy one, and they all technically fill you up, but the experience and quality will be different.
“We are building on 70 hectares of land in Lekki and it will cost us over $150 million at completion and that is why we are very sure that by the time we are done, people will appreciate us better. So, those who want quality and are familiar with Charterhouse know why their children must come to our school.
Taking on the possibility of the school reducing its fees in response to the public criticism, “education is like somebody who is hungry and wants to take lunch and go to a restaurant where a plate of food is N5,000 and another go elsewhere to take the same size of food at just N2,000 and yet another go elsewhere where he or she will get it for N15,000 or more.
“Though the food may look alike, their value will never be the same. So, it is about providing value for money and that is what we do at Charterhouse.”
Will Charterhouse lower their fees due to the public outcry
