Olapeju: Cost, Capacity, Consistency, How Private Schools Stay Afloat

In Nigeria’s increasingly competitive education sector, running a private school is as much a financial balancing act as it is a commitment to learning. For Mrs. Olapeju Aileru, proprietor of The Oakfield Schools, survival and sustainability in the business of education come down to three critical pillars: cost management, optimal capacity, and operational consistency.

Speaking on her journey, Aileru described building a private school from the ground up as a venture that demands patience, resilience, and careful financial planning.

Like many school owners, she began with a vision to provide quality education but quickly realised that passion alone is not enough to sustain a school in a challenging economic environment.

“Education is not just a service; it is also a business,” she explained. “If you don’t understand how to manage costs and grow your student population, the school will struggle.”

One of the biggest hurdles for private school proprietors, she noted, is cost. From rent and infrastructure to staff salaries, learning materials, and regulatory requirements, expenses can quickly outpace revenue, especially in the early years.

Aileru emphasised the importance of starting within one’s financial capacity. Rather than overinvesting in large facilities or expensive aesthetics, she advises new entrants to prioritise functionality and gradual expansion.

“You don’t need to start big to be impactful,” she said. “Focus on what is essential, safe classrooms, qualified teachers, and a conducive learning environment. You can scale up as your enrollment grows.”

Closely tied to cost is the issue of capacity. According to Aileru, many private schools struggle not because they lack students entirely, but because they operate below optimal enrollment levels. Fixed costs such as salaries and rent remain constant, regardless of whether a classroom is half-full or at capacity.

“The difference between profit and loss in many schools is the number of pupils enrolled,” she noted. She continued, “If your classrooms are not filled to a reasonable level, it becomes difficult to break even.”

To address this, she highlighted the need for deliberate enrollment strategies. Building trust within the community, maintaining high teaching standards, and leveraging word-of-mouth referrals are key to attracting and retaining students.

For Aileru, consistency in service delivery has been a major driver of growth at The Oakfield Schools.

“Parents talk to each other. When they see improvement in their children, they recommend your school,” she said. “That is more powerful than any advertisement.”

Consistency, the third pillar, goes beyond academics. It encompasses everything from staff performance and curriculum delivery to communication with parents and the overall school experience.

Aileru stressed that inconsistency can quickly erode trust, making it difficult for schools to maintain enrollment levels.

“Parents want reliability. They want to know that the quality they saw last term will be the same or better in the next,” she explained.

Maintaining this level of consistency requires investment in teachers, who are at the heart of any school’s success.

Aileru advocates for continuous training and motivation of staff, even when resources are limited.

“Your teachers are your biggest asset,” she said. “If they are not well-equipped or motivated, it reflects directly on the students and, ultimately, on the school.”

Despite the structured approach, Aileru acknowledged that breaking even in the private education sector is rarely immediate. Many schools operate at a loss in their early years as they build enrollment and establish their reputation.

However, with disciplined financial management and steady growth, profitability becomes achievable over time.

“Breaking even is a gradual process,” she said. “You have to be patient and reinvest in the school consistently.”

She also pointed to external challenges such as inflation, rising operational costs, and fluctuating economic conditions, which can put additional pressure on school finances.

In response, she advised proprietors to adopt flexible financial strategies, including phased development projects and prudent spending.

For Aileru, the journey of building THE OAKFIELD SCHOOLS has been both demanding and rewarding. Beyond financial sustainability, she sees the impact on students’ lives as the ultimate measure of success.

“Seeing children grow, learn, and succeed is the real reward,” she said. “But to continue making that impact, the school itself must remain financially stable.”

As more Nigerians turn to private education in search of quality and reliability, the sector is expected to remain competitive.

For aspiring and existing school owners, Aileru’s insights offer a practical roadmap: manage costs carefully, maximise capacity, and maintain consistency.

In a landscape where many schools struggle to stay afloat, those who master these three elements stand a better chance of not only surviving but building institutions that endure.