The Ghana Education Service (GES) has cautioned heads and teachers of public schools across the country against demanding or collecting unauthorised Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues and other levies.
In a statement dated Wednesday, October 22, 2025, and signed by the Head of Public Relations, Daniel Fenyí, the GES said it had received multiple reports indicating that some second-cycle schools were imposing various charges on students and parents without official approval.
According to the Service, such actions violate established guidelines on school levies and could place unnecessary financial burdens on parents.
GES Clarifies Approval Procedures
The GES emphasised that no school has the authority to collect any PTA or development levy without prior approval. The statement outlined the proper channels through which such permissions must be sought.
For basic schools, requests must be reviewed and approved by the District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC) through the District Director of Education. In the case of senior high schools and other second-cycle institutions, approvals must come directly from the Regional Director of Education.
The Service further stressed that even when such levies are sanctioned, payment remains voluntary, and no student should be denied access to classes, exams, or other educational services due to non-payment.
“No student should suffer any form of discrimination, punishment, or exclusion from school activities because their parents could not pay such contributions,” the statement noted.
In a firm directive, the GES instructed that no headteacher, teacher, or staff member of the Service should take part in collecting PTA levies. The responsibility for managing and collecting such funds, according to the GES, lies solely with duly elected PTA executives, acting independently of school staff.
The Service said this measure aims to prevent conflicts of interest and potential misuse of funds, as well as to strengthen transparency in how parent contributions are handled.
Regional and District Directors have been tasked to monitor compliance with the directive and to report any violations for immediate disciplinary action.
The warning from the GES comes amid increasing complaints from parents about unofficial fees being charged in some public schools. These fees often include PTA dues, “development levies,” or “extra class” contributions that, in some cases, have been imposed without parental consent.
The GES’s latest directive reinforces its ongoing efforts to ensure that education at the basic and secondary levels remains affordable and accessible, especially under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.
Education analysts note that while PTA contributions can play a helpful role in supporting school development, lack of clear regulation sometimes leads to misuse of funds or unfair pressure on low-income families.
This move is significant for parents and guardians across Ghana, many of whom have struggled with rising costs of education despite government subsidies. By restricting unauthorised collections, the GES aims to protect families from financial exploitation and maintain equity in access to public education.
The directive also highlights the government’s broader push for accountability in school administration, an area that has faced scrutiny from civil society organisations and education unions in recent years.
In 2023, a report by the Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) revealed that unapproved levies and “hidden fees” remained a major complaint among parents in both basic and senior high schools. The report urged the Ministry of Education and GES to strengthen oversight mechanisms at the district and regional levels—a recommendation that aligns with the new enforcement order.
While the GES maintains that voluntary PTA contributions are not banned, it insists that proper authorisation and transparency are essential. PTAs play a critical role in improving school infrastructure, supporting extracurricular activities, and addressing local educational needs.
However, experts argue that such initiatives must always operate within legal and ethical boundaries to prevent conflicts between school authorities and parents.
An education policy analyst, Dr. Samuel Mensah, speaking on JoyNews in 2024, noted that clear communication between PTAs and school administrations “helps maintain trust and ensures that funds are used for the intended purpose — improving learning conditions, not creating parallel school budgets.”
With this directive, the Ghana Education Service (GES) hopes to restore discipline and financial transparency in public schools. Regional and district authorities have been tasked to conduct periodic inspections to ensure schools comply with approved financial procedures.
Parents are also encouraged to report any unauthorised collections to their District Education Office for swift action.
The GES reiterated its commitment to working with all education stakeholders — including PTAs, school boards, and civil society — to ensure that Ghana’s education system remains fair, accessible, and accountable.
As the new academic term continues, the spotlight now turns to school heads and PTA executives to see how effectively the directive will be implemented at the local level.
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