The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a strong caution to all public schools across the country against the collection of unauthorised Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) levies. This warning comes after the Service received numerous reports indicating that some second-cycle institutions have been demanding and collecting various forms of levies from students under the guise of PTA dues. The directive, contained in a press release dated October 22, 2025, and signed by Daniel Fenyi, Head of Public Relations at GES, aims to curb the growing practice of imposing illegal fees on students and parents.
According to the statement, the GES management has not granted any school the authority to collect PTA or development levies without prior approval from the appropriate educational oversight bodies. In the case of basic schools, the Service emphasized that approval for such collections must come from the District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC), working through the District Director of Education. For second-cycle institutions, however, such authorization lies solely with the Regional Director of Education. This structure, GES explained, ensures accountability, transparency, and adherence to national education policies regarding fee collection in schools.
The statement also made it clear that even when approval is granted, any form of PTA levy remains strictly voluntary. Schools, therefore, have no legal or moral right to compel parents or students to make such payments. GES reminded heads of schools that no student should be denied access to education, services, or any benefits within the school system because of a parent’s inability or refusal to pay PTA dues. This directive is in line with Ghana’s commitment to free and equitable education for all, as mandated by the government.
In addition, the GES explicitly warned that no headteacher, teacher, or staff member of any educational institution is permitted to take part in the collection of PTA levies. The circular emphasized that the management and collection of PTA funds are the sole responsibility of duly elected PTA Executives, not school authorities. The statement noted that in some schools, administrators and teachers have been directly handling PTA funds, often without proper accountability mechanisms. This, according to the Service, undermines transparency and can lead to misuse of funds or loss of trust between schools and parents.
Furthermore, the GES reiterated its position that any form of fundraising or levy collection should be well-regulated and transparent, ensuring that all financial activities directly benefit the students and the institution as intended. The Service emphasized that PTA dues and other voluntary contributions should be used to support minor school projects, student welfare, and the improvement of teaching and learning conditions—but only under lawful and approved circumstances.
The press release concluded by directing all Regional and District Directors of Education to monitor schools under their jurisdiction closely to ensure full compliance with the directive. They have been instructed to investigate any report of unauthorized levy collection and to take immediate disciplinary action against those found culpable. This move, according to the GES, is part of broader efforts to protect parents and guardians from unnecessary financial burdens and to maintain fairness and discipline within the educational sector.
Education analysts have lauded the move by GES as timely and necessary. Over the years, there have been several reports of schools demanding various forms of unauthorized payments from students under different pretexts—such as development fees, PTA dues, or maintenance contributions. Such practices have often placed undue financial pressure on parents, particularly in rural and low-income communities. Many have also criticized the lack of oversight in how some of these funds are utilized, calling for stronger regulation and enforcement.
By reinforcing this directive, GES seeks to restore integrity in the financial operations of schools and ensure that Ghana’s education system remains accessible and fair to all students, regardless of their economic backgrounds. The Service’s commitment to free and quality education, the statement implies, cannot coexist with unauthorized financial demands that exclude or disadvantage students.
In conclusion, the GES’s warning serves as a firm reminder to all educational institutions to operate within the law and adhere strictly to approved financial practices. It also calls on parents, students, and community stakeholders to report any instance of illegal levy collection to the appropriate authorities. The Ghana Education Service maintains that education should remain a right and not a privilege tied to one’s ability to pay unauthorized fees.
By this directive, GES underscores its unwavering commitment to protecting students, promoting accountability, and upholding the government’s vision of equitable access to quality education for every Ghanaian child.
