Charterhouse Lagos Under Fire for N30 Million Tuition, Boarding Fees Stir Debate

Charterhouse, a prestigious British independent school located in Lekki, Lagos State, has once again ignited debate over its tuition fees, drawing strong reactions from Nigerians on social media. The school, which is part of the Charterhouse Family of Schools, has been a significant name in British education for over 400 years. Its Lagos campus, the first African branch, began accepting students in September 2024 for Year 1 through Year 6.

The school had previously made headlines in April 2024 when it was revealed that its tuition fees were as high as N42 million per year, in addition to a N2 million non-refundable registration fee. This sparked widespread backlash, with many questioning the affordability of such fees for the average Nigerian family.

The controversy resurfaced on Thursday after a video shared by a user on X.com (formerly Twitter) showed the inside of the school, accompanied by the caption, “This is what the inside of the most expensive school in Lagos looks like. It costs N42 million per year.” The video, attributed to Charterhouse, stated that the actual tuition and accommodation cost less than N30 million, but the post garnered over 9,200 interactions, with many Nigerians still criticizing the high costs.

One user, #TheWaleOrire, raised concerns about the affordability of education in Nigeria, stating, “If the government can’t regulate school fees in primary and secondary schools, how can we achieve standardised universal basic education?” He further added, “This only widens the gap between the lower, middle, and upper classes, turning education into a luxury for the rich instead of a right for every child.”

Many others echoed similar sentiments, arguing that the N42 million fees were out of reach for most Nigerians. #OAAdeniji remarked, “There is no way anyone in Nigeria, earning in Naira, will be paying N42 million per year for a secondary school student, no matter what they are being taught. This is more than outrageous.”

A separate comment from #toofighting pointed out that many of the students at the school are likely children of expatriates whose fees are paid by their employers, making it difficult for most Nigerian families to afford such an education.

On the other hand, some users defended the school, arguing that it caters to a specific market. #Arsenicscot suggested, “They don’t have the majority as their market target. All these complaints are for those who cannot afford it. The owners know the segment of the population they are targeting.”

Furthermore, some pointed out that beyond the high fees, the school’s boarding arrangements raised questions. The video indicated that students would share rooms with three others, each having a bed and private space, which some critics felt was insufficient for the cost. #SandraAdaeze4 commented, “N30 million a year only to share a room with four other students.” Others, like #citiii, said, “For that amount, there is no reason why each student shouldn’t have their own room or at worst, two per room.”

According to Charterhouse’s website, the school follows a tiered fee structure for its founding students. Tuition fees range from N16.1 million for Years 1–2 to N24 million for Year 9. Weekly boarding costs an additional N5 million, while full boarding is priced at N7 million per year.

In response to earlier criticism, John Todd, the Founding Head and Director of Education at Charterhouse Lagos, clarified the school’s fees in August 2024, explaining, “In April, there was an online reaction to our school fees, which sparked a lot of discussion. I want to set the record straight: our fees are currently N26 million, not N42 million. We’ve never charged N42 million.”

Despite the clarifications, Charterhouse’s fees remain a point of contention, with many questioning the wider implications of such high costs on the accessibility of quality education in Nigeria.