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The short answer
Ask the school's bursar for an instalment plan in writing before the term starts: the amounts, the due dates and any extra charge for paying in parts. Then pay each instalment into the school's own account, in naira, with your child's name and class in the reference, and ask for a receipt each time. A written plan and matching receipts stop disputes about balances.
Paying a full term's fees at once is hard for many parents, especially with two or three children in school and fees set in naira while your income is in pounds. Many Nigerian private schools accept payment in parts. The key is to agree it properly with the school, not informally with a teacher or through a relative.
Agree the plan with the school first
Contact the bursar or the school's accounts office, using a phone number or email from the school's own website or official letter. Ask:
- Does the school accept instalments, and for which fees? Some allow it for tuition but want boarding, levies or exam fees in full.
- How many instalments, and on what dates?
- Is there an added charge or a lost discount for paying in parts?
- What happens if an instalment is late: a reminder, a charge, or the child sent home?
- Will the school confirm the plan in writing, on letterhead or by official email?
Keep the written plan. It is your evidence if a balance is later disputed. The Nigeria library covers how schools usually structure plans in paying school fees in instalments in Nigeria.
A worked plan
| Instalment | Due | Amount (example) | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Before resumption | ₦450,000 | ₦450,000 |
| 2 | Mid-term | ₦225,000 | ₦675,000 |
| 3 | Four weeks after mid-term | ₦225,000 | ₦900,000 |
Paying each instalment from the UK
- Confirm the account once, by phone with the bursary, and save it. Do not accept a change of account by message without calling the school.
- Pay in naira into the school's own account, never a staff member's personal account.
- Use a consistent reference: child's full name, class, term and instalment number, for example "Tolu Ade JSS2 1st term inst 2".
- Pay a few days early, so a slow transfer does not make you late.
- Send the confirmation to the bursary and ask for a receipt.
Our guide to paying Nigerian school fees directly from the UK covers transfer routes and costs in more detail.
A warning about changed account details
Messages announcing a school's "new account" are a known scam. Under the UK's authorised push payment reimbursement rules, refunds apply to UK payments by Faster Payments or CHAPS and exclude international payments, so money sent to a fraudster's Nigerian account is unlikely to be refunded by your UK bank. Always call the school on a known number before paying a new account.
If you fall behind
If an instalment will be late, tell the bursar before the due date, not after. Explain when the money will arrive and confirm the new date by email. Schools are generally more flexible with a parent who calls ahead than with one who goes silent, and an email trail protects your child from being sent home over a misunderstanding. If you fall behind repeatedly, ask whether a different schedule, such as monthly payments, would suit both sides better.
Saving towards each instalment
Instalments work best when the money is set aside before each due date. Some parents move a fixed amount every month into a separate pot. If you hold the money with a non-bank payment or e-money firm, the FCA explains it is not covered by the FSCS, although such firms must safeguard customer money. Spread the conversion from pounds to naira across the term if you prefer not to convert everything on one day's rate.
Keeping the record straight
- Keep the written plan, each transfer confirmation and each school receipt together.
- At the end of term, ask the school for a statement showing the term's fees fully paid.
- Keep this for when your child changes school or sits external exams; some schools ask for proof of a clear balance.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal account holds naira and pounds, so you can convert ahead of each instalment with Swap, seeing the rate before you approve, and pay the school with Send. A Personal Assistant (assistant) can remind you of due dates and prepare each payment for your approval.
Questions people ask
Do Nigerian private schools accept fees in instalments?
Many do, but terms vary. Ask the bursar for a written plan with amounts, dates and any extra charge before the term starts.
Can I pay school fees in parts from the UK?
Yes. Pay each instalment into the school's own naira account with a clear reference, and ask for a receipt each time.
What if the school asks me to pay a new account number?
Call the school on a number you already know before paying. Changed account messages are a common scam, and international payments are excluded from UK scam refund rules.
Is it cheaper to pay school fees in full?
Sometimes. If the school gives a discount for full payment, an instalment plan costs more. Compare both in naira before choosing.
Sources
- Nationwide: Payment Systems Regulator APP scam reimbursement · accessed Oct 2026
- FCA: Using payment service providers · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.