The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a strong caution to all basic and second-cycle schools across the country over the unauthorised collection of levies under the guise of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues or development contributions.
In a statement released on Tuesday, October 22, 2025, and signed by Daniel Fenyii, Head of Public Relations at the GES, management said it had received several reports indicating that some second-cycle institutions were charging students and parents various levies without official approval.
According to the statement, no school, whether basic or secondary, has been granted permission to collect any PTA or development levy unless proper authorisation is obtained through the appropriate educational oversight bodies.
“We wish to state that no school has been authorised to collect any PTA or development levy without prior approval,” the statement read.
The GES clarified that for basic schools, such approval must come from the District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC) through the District Director of Education, while in second-cycle institutions, the mandate lies with the Regional Director of Education.
Even in cases where approval is granted, the Service emphasised that all PTA-related payments remain strictly voluntary. No student, it warned, should ever be denied access to education, school services, or any related benefits due to non-payment of such dues.
“Even when approved, such payments remain strictly voluntary, and no student should be denied any school service, right or benefit for non-payment,” the release added.
The directive also prohibits heads of institutions, teachers, and other GES staff from getting involved in the collection of PTA levies. It stressed that fundraising activities are the sole responsibility of duly elected PTA executives, not the staff of educational institutions.
In a firm reminder to administrators, the Service stated that Regional and District Directors have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the directive. Any breach, the statement said, would attract immediate disciplinary action.
This move by the GES follows growing public concern over reports that certain schools had been imposing various levies on parents, often without transparency or official sanction. In some instances, parents alleged that students were threatened with sanctions or denial of access to classes if they failed to pay.
Education analysts have since welcomed the directive, noting that it reinforces the government’s commitment to maintaining free and equitable access to education, particularly under the Free SHS and Free Compulsory Basic Education (FCUBE) policies.
The GES, as the implementing agency of the Ministry of Education, has consistently maintained that while PTAs play a crucial role in supporting school development, any financial contribution must be transparent, voluntary, and subject to oversight.
The Service’s latest statement also comes amid broader efforts to sanitise the educational sector by ensuring financial discipline and accountability in school management.
Parents are, therefore, being advised to verify any levies demanded by schools and to report unauthorised collections to the nearest District Education Office for immediate action.
The Ghana Education Service reiterated its commitment to upholding the rights of students and ensuring that no child is denied education due to financial constraints, stressing that any violation of this directive would not be tolerated.
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