GES directs govt SHSs heads to refund already collected PTA dues
The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis, has directed second-cycle schools that have already charged and collected Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues from first-year students to refund the money to parents.
The GES Director’s directive follows a petition made by the Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM), over some Senior High Schools charging Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) fees of up to GHC400.
In their petition, they said, the demands are excessive and unaffordable, particularly for the guardians and surviving parents of complete and incomplete orphans who are already struggling to provide for these children.
‘‘Such charges not only place an unfair financial burden on vulnerable families but also threaten to deny many children their right to education. Introducing these fees undermines the government’s efforts toward free and equitable access to education for all children,” they lamented.
They further noted that many of the constituents are affected and are unable to pay the amounts, resulting in their children being excluded from school or learning under distressing conditions.
’Therefore, we call on the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Minister of Education to immediately investigate and halt these practices in schools across the country or provide credible alternatives,” they urged.
In a related development, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has barred heads and teachers of government schools in the country against against demanding or collecting unauthorized levies under the guise of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues.
This follows reports that some second-cycle institutions in the country are demanding and collecting various levies under the guise of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues.
“We wish to state that no school has been authorized to collect any Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) or development levy without prior approval,” the Service said in a statement sighted by Pretertiary.com.
It explained that in basic schools, such approval must come from the District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC) through the District Director of Education, while in second-cycle institutions, authorization must be granted by the Regional Director of Education.
GES further emphasized that even when such levies are approved, payment remains strictly voluntary, and no student should be denied access to school services, rights, or benefits for non-payment.
“Even when approved, such payments remain strictly voluntary, and no student should be denied any school service, right or benefit for non-payment,” the statement signed by GES spokesman Daniel Fenyi said.
GES has therefore directed that no head of school or teacher, or GES staff member, should be involved in the collection of PTA levies, stressing that fundraising activities are the sole responsibility of duly elected PTA executives.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has instructed all Regional and District Directors to ensure strict compliance with the directive and to report any breaches for immediate disciplinary action.
“GES further directs that no Head, teacher, or GES staff member of any educational institution shall be involved in the collection of PTA levies. Fundraising activities remain the exclusive responsibility of duly elected PTA Executives.
Regional and District Directors are directed to monitor compliance and report any breach for immediate disciplinary action,” the Ghana Education Service (GES) statement dated October 22, 2025, stated.
