GES suspends collection of PTA levies in schools
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has suspended the implementation of the new Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Guidelines, including the collection of PTA levies in schools.
GES directed that all heads of senior high, technical, and basic schools, as well as PTA executives, must not collect any levies from parents or guardians until further notice. The suspension takes effect immediately and must be strictly followed.
Regional and district directors of education have been instructed to ensure the directive reaches all schools and that no school breaches it. The statement was signed by Dr. Munawaru Issahaque, Acting Deputy Director-General in charge of Quality and Access.
The new PTA Guidelines had outlined rules for membership, term limits for executives, auditing of PTA accounts, and checks on how PTA funds are accessed. Teachers were banned from collecting levies or being signatories to PTA accounts. GES emphasized that the guidelines were designed to promote transparency, accountability, and proper participation of parents in school governance.
GES said no school has been authorised to collect PTA or development levies without proper approval. Even when approved, payment must remain voluntary, and no student should be denied school services for non-payment.
The suspension follows reports that some senior high schools were demanding PTA levies from parents as part of registration for the 2025-2026 academic year, with some parents reportedly turned away over unpaid dues. These actions were contrary to the GES directive and raised concerns over equity, as the fees could prevent some children from accessing education.
The service warned that regional and district directors must monitor schools to ensure compliance, and any breach will attract immediate disciplinary action. Heads of schools and PTA executives are also required to educate parents and staff about the voluntary nature of PTA levies to prevent misunderstandings.
GES reiterated that PTAs remain important platforms for parent participation, community engagement, and support for school development. However, all activities must comply with national guidelines to ensure fairness and prevent undue pressure on parents.
In addition, the service stated that PTA funds, when properly managed, help improve school infrastructure, learning materials, and extracurricular activities. The current suspension gives GES time to review the guidelines and ensure that all schools implement them uniformly and transparently before resuming any levy collection.
