Operationalise PTAs in pre-tertiary schools now! - GES directs heads of schools
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has said it will issue further guidelines on modalities for the reinstatement of parent-teacher associations (PTAs) in senior high schools in the country.
This would include the structure, roles and financial accountability mechanisms of PTAs to ensure consistency across all schools.
Following the recent directive by President John Dramani Mahama on the full reinstatement of PTAs in all pre-tertiary schools nationwide, management of the GES hereby directs that all heads of schools be informed to operationalise the directive with immediate effect,” the acting Director-General of the GES, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis, said in a letter.
The letter was dated July 16, 2025, and addressed to all regional directors of education.
“By copy of this letter, you are requested to bring this directive to the attention of all metropolitan, municipal and district directors of education under your jurisdiction, and advise heads of public senior high, technical and STEM schools to stand ready for further instructions,” it said.
Community involvement
On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, President Mahama called for the full reinstatement of PTAs in schools nationwide, saying that sidelining parents from school governance had undermined accountability and community involvement.
Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) at the Jubilee House in Accra, Mr Mahama described the marginalisation of PTAs as misguided.
“The trend everywhere in the world is to give communities a say in how their schools are run. I felt very scandalised when PTAs were virtually shoved aside and not allowed to be a part of the running of our schools, especially at the secondary level, he said”.
Restructuring
The associations were reformed following the abolition of mandatory PTA levies under the Free Senior High School policy in 2019.
The GES later restructured them into Parent Associations, subjecting them to strict financial regulations intended to prevent fund misuse and also protect families from unauthorised charges.
This reduced parents’ influence in the running of the school and provision of support.
