GES Cracks Down on Unauthorized PTA Levies: Schools Banned from Charging Without Approval, No Student Denied Services
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a stern directive cautioning school heads and management against imposing unauthorized Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) or development levies, emphasizing that such collections are illegal without prior approval from District or Regional Directors of Education.
The October 22 circular, signed by Director-General Dr. Eric Nkansah, responds to widespread complaints of schools extorting fees for basic services, vowing disciplinary action against violators to protect the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy’s integrity.
“Schools are not authorized to collect any PTA or development levy without prior approval,” the statement declares, mandating that even approved levies remain strictly voluntary.
Critically, no student may be denied access to classes, exams, or facilities due to non-payment—a direct rebuke to reports of barred pupils and shamed parents in regions like Ashanti, Eastern, and Greater Accra, where levies for “security,” “ICT,” or “sanitation” have ballooned to GH¢500-2,000 per term despite government subsidies covering tuition, boarding, and meals for 1.4 million SHS students.
GES explicitly prohibits school heads, teachers, or staff from handling collections, shifting responsibility to PTA executives under strict oversight. Regional and District Directors are ordered to enforce compliance through unannounced audits, with breaches triggering sanctions under the Education Act, 2008 (Act 778), including suspensions or dismissals.
This follows a 2024 scandal where 150 schools in Kumasi were fined GH¢10,000 each for similar infractions, yet violations persist amid funding gaps—GES’s 2025 budget allocates GH¢4.8 billion for Free SHS, but critics cite arrears pushing heads to levy parents.
The directive aligns with President Mahama’s October 15 pledge to sustain Free SHS while rooting out abuses, echoing 2023 reforms that slashed unauthorized fees by 40%. Parents’ groups like the National Parent-Teacher Association hailed it as “long overdue,” with hotline reports surging 300% since launch.
Dr. Nkansah urged whistleblowers to dial 030-222-8601, promising anonymity and swift probes to restore trust in a system educating 12 million children, where equity remains the cornerstone of Ghana’s education revolution.
