Education: When high fee doesn’t mean better academic performance

As private school fees in Lagos and across Nigeria soar into millions of naira per academic session, parents are grappling with a crucial question: Does the cost guarantee better academic performance? Tuition in elite schools now ranges from N3 million to N5 million annually, while mid-tier private schools charge between N500,000 and N1.5 million. This widening gap between private and public school fees prompts debate among stakeholders about the actual link between high tuition and quality educational outcomes.

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Does the cost translate to better academic performance?

For many parents, the decision to enroll their children in expensive schools extends beyond academics. Factors such as superior facilities, smaller class sizes, enhanced security, and the perceived "social status" associated with certain institutions play a significant role. One parent, considering enrolling his child in Grange School, a premium Lagos institution, noted the pre-school fees alone approach N5 million, excluding uniforms and other expenses. "I love the school, but the cost of acquiring such an education is huge," he admitted, while still exploring other options.

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I have always admired Grange schools, and considering that my child will be starting school this September, I went to the website of Grange. The fees for pre-school are up to N5 million, excluding school uniforms and other miscellaneous expenses. I love the school, but the cost of acquiring such an education is huge. I am considering other options.

Beyond prestige, parents also cite the "structure" offered by private schools as a key advantage. Unlike public universities, which often face disruptions like strikes and teacher shortages, private schools are perceived to offer a more stable environment, ensuring students graduate on schedule. However, the value proposition of high fees is not universally accepted. One parent, paying around N800,000 per term for their son in a highbrow private school, expressed frustration when the mathematics teacher struggled to explain basic algebra, necessitating costly private tutoring.

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Public schools like universities now always have one issue or the other, such as a strike or a lack of enough teachers. Private schools have structure, and you are sure your child will graduate when they are supposed to.

Concerns are mounting that the exorbitant fees, sometimes reaching N30 million to N40 million annually for international schools like Charterhouse Lagos, do not always correlate with superior teaching. "What parents are basically paying for is a swimming pool, a school bus with AC, and foreign excursions," one anonymous parent stated. "The actual teaching is almost the same as in normal schools." This sentiment is echoed by former students, who suggest that expensive school fees are often driven by branding and the desire for children to network with the offspring of elites. "It’s 70% brand, 30% academics," one ex-student observed, noting that even in private universities, outdated teaching materials and facilities sometimes fail to justify the high cost compared to public institutions.

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Yes! I put my son in a highbrow private school in Magodo paying around N800,000 a term. Yet, the Maths teacher he had at that time didn’t even know how to explain Algebra. I still had to pay for home lessons. It was very annoying.