Most Lagos parents who can afford it choose a private school, and the range between them is enormous - in fees, in curriculum and in quality. Knowing how the system fits together makes the choice less bewildering.
How the system is structured
| Stage | Years | Ends with |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery | Before age six | - |
| Primary | Six | - |
| Junior secondary (JSS) | Three | The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) |
| Senior secondary (SSS) | Three | The WASSCE and/or the NECO SSCE |
| University | Four or more | A degree |
The first 9 years - primary and junior secondary - are free and compulsory under the Universal Basic Education Act 2004.
The school year runs in three terms, from September to July.
The exams
- WAEC’s WASSCE is taken at the end of senior secondary. A credit is grade C6 or better, and 5 credits including English and mathematics is the usual floor for university.
- NECO runs a parallel senior school certificate exam, the SSCE. Many students sit both, as a second chance at the credits.
- JAMB’s UTME is the entrance exam for university, scored out of 400. The national minimum for admission is 150, set yearly; competitive courses demand far more.
Public schools
Lagos State public schools charge no tuition for basic education. They are also crowded, and quality varies widely from school to school.
The federal unity colleges, such as King’s College and Queen’s College, admit by the National Common Entrance Examination at the end of primary school, and are among the most sought-after schools in the city.
Private schools
Most private schools in Lagos teach the Nigerian curriculum, often alongside British material. Fees run from about ₦150,000 a term at an ordinary private primary school to ₦900,000 or more at a well-regarded one - and the fees are only part of the cost. Ask for the full list: uniforms, books, the development levy, transport, lunch, excursions and exam fees.
International schools
A smaller group of schools teaches a British, American or International Baccalaureate curriculum. Fees are often quoted in dollars, from about USD 12,000 a year to USD 30,000 or more. Many expatriate employers contribute; check your contract.
What to check before you pay
- Is it approved? Private schools must be registered with the Lagos State Government. Ask to see the approval, and check it with the state.
- Visit in term time, not on an open day. Look at the classrooms, the toilets and the water.
- Ask for results - WASSCE and NECO results, and where leavers go.
- Ask what happens when the power goes. A school without a working generator or solar system has hot, dark classrooms half the day.
- Work out the school run. A school forty minutes away at 6am can be two hours away at 7am. Many families choose a school by the traffic as much as by the teaching.
University
Federal universities charge from about ₦100,000 a year, far below the private universities, which start around ₦1,500,000. The University of Lagos and Lagos State University are the city’s large public universities. Strikes have repeatedly closed the public universities for months at a time, which is a large part of why families who can pay choose a private one.