Officials of the recently established Charterhouse school in Lekki, Lagos explained the reasons behind the N42m annual fee.
This follows public criticism of the N42m annual fee and N2 million non-refundable registration fee for each primary school student.
Critics have called the fee outrageous and a waste of money in the current state of Nigeria’s economy.
@Sire_sammie expressed concern about the high fees, linking the quality of education to the salary of the lowest-paid teacher in the school.
@SegunAK01 suggested saving the money and sending the child to a quality tertiary school instead.
@Ibidunnn criticized the school, questioning the need for a UK-standard school in Nigeria.
The director of Communications, Admissions, and Marketing of the school, Damilola Olatunbosun, defended the fee, describing Charterhouse as a value-driven world-class educational institution.
Olatunbosun emphasized that Charterhouse is not like any other school but a prestigious and value-driven educational institution.
Despite the criticism, Olatunbosun stated that many parents are interested in enrolling their children and find the fees affordable.
Olatunbosun mentioned that parents recognize the quality of education offered by Charterhouse and find the value worth the high fees.
He also noted that the cost of sending children abroad for education is higher than enrolling them at Charterhouse in Nigeria.
He added that Charterhouse has facilities comparable to high-profile UK-based schools and is of similar value.
He emphasized that Charterhouse has facilities that are not present in any other school in Nigeria.
He also highlighted that Charterhouse values both academic and extra-curricular activities for its students.
He stated that the schooling experience at Charterhouse Lagos will be similar to that of Charterhouse UK, with the only difference being the immersion in Nigerian culture.
“We are not just an ordinary school. Many important Nigerians, who either went to Charterhouse or have relatives who attended the school in the UK, are happy that Charterhouse is now in Lagos, Nigeria.
In Lagos, there are schools that charge millions of Naira per year, some charge hundreds of thousands, and others charge less. So, it's up to parents to decide where to enroll their children based on the value they want and their budget.
We are constructing on 70 hectares of land in Lekki, and it will cost us over $150 million to finish. That's why we are confident that people will appreciate us more once it's done. Those familiar with Charterhouse understand why their children should attend our school for quality education.
Addressing the possibility of the school reducing its fees in response to public criticism, the school compared education to a hungry person choosing where to eat. They emphasized that even if the food looks similar, their value is not the same, highlighting the importance of providing value for money at Charterhouse.
“Even though the food may look the same, their value will never be the same. So, it is about providing value for money and that is what we do at Charterhouse.”
