President John Dramani Mahama has urged the full reinstatement of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in schools across Ghana, emphasizing their crucial role in accountability and community involvement in education.
Speaking during a meeting with the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) at Jubilee House on June 11, 2025, Mahama expressed concern over the diminished role of PTAs in school governance.
“The trend everywhere in the world is to give communities a say in how their schools are run,” Mahama stated. “I felt very scandalized when PTAs were virtually shoved aside and not allowed to be a part of the running of our schools, especially at the secondary level”.
PTAs were significantly restructured following the 2019 abolition of mandatory PTA levies under the Free Senior High School policy, leading to their transformation into Parent Associations with stricter financial regulations.
While this was intended to prevent fund misuse, critics argue that it reduced parental influence in supporting school infrastructure and oversight.
Government’s Response and Future Plans
The Ministry of Education has since acknowledged the concerns raised by educators and parents, confirming efforts to reintegrate PTAs into daily school operations. Civil society groups, such as the African Foundation for Educational Development, have warned that sidelining PTAs could weaken community engagement in schools.
Mahama pledged to work with GNAT and other unions to restore PTAs, emphasizing their importance in ensuring better teaching and learning outcomes. He also addressed broader teacher concerns, including accommodation, pensions, and welfare, announcing that all newly constructed basic schools would include residential facilities for teachers.
“We have passed a directive that every school being built at the basic level must come with accompanying accommodation for teachers,” Mahama stated. He also unveiled plans to partner with the Teachers’ Fund on a home ownership scheme, enabling teachers to acquire homes through salary deductions over time.
Stakeholder Reactions
Education experts and teacher unions have welcomed Mahama’s call for PTA restoration, arguing that parental involvement is key to improving school governance. The Ghana Education Service (GES) has indicated that discussions are ongoing to develop new PTA guidelines that balance financial accountability with parental engagement.
Mahama also touched on broader education reforms, revealing that the government received the final report from the national education review committee the previous week. He assured GNAT leaders of full stakeholder consultation before implementation, highlighting a proposal to decentralize school supervision to the district level.
“It is easier for the education service to supervise and monitor schools at the district level than to try and do it from the center,” he noted.
Mahama’s push for PTA reinstatement signals a renewed focus on community-driven education policies. As discussions continue, stakeholders will be looking at how best to balance parental involvement with financial transparency, ensuring that PTAs contribute meaningfully to school development and student success.
Leave a Reply