Volta PTAs against standardising dues; but GES says it is justified
The Volta Region Chapter of the National Council of Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) has described the Ghana Education Service (GES) policy which sets a ceiling on PTA levies and dues in public second-cycle schools as “unrealistic” and “very undemocratic”.
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It said since PTAs were democratic social units whose operations reflected the state, character, and aspirations of each school, any policy to standardise and regulate PTA levies and dues would stifle innovation and the desire to create a better teaching and learning environment.
Recognition and empowerment
Addressing a press conference in Ho, the General Secretary of the chapter, Mr Francis Ovulley, asked the GES to give PTAs the due recognition and empower them as democratic units to play their respective roles effectively in the provision of quality education.
Reaction from GES
However, the Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Alhaji Mohammed Haroon, has indicated that the GES is justified in placing a ceiling on PTA dues and levies in senior high schools.
According to a Ghana News Agency (GNA) report, he said the ceiling was to ensure that education was made accessible and affordable to everyone in line with the government’s policy.
In an interview with the GNA regarding statements by the Regional Chapter of the National Council of PTAs describing the standardisation of the dues and levies as “undemocratic and unrealistic”, he said though GES recognised the contributions of PTAs to education, it could not allow such bodies to use levies and dues to send children out of school.
“ The Government is particular about fees. Our priority is access and affordability and we can’t allow PTAs to charge students arbitrarily,” Alhaji Haroon said.
Affordable fees
He said the GES “checks unit schools to protect government policy on affordable fees in the interest of the common person. We cannot allow PTAs to use exorbitant fees to take students out of the classrooms. We have international conventions to meet,” Alhaji Haroon said.
A parent who spoke on the issue on condition of anonymity said PTA executives were cheating parents with exorbitant charges and by Red AdBlocker" href="#">making money from
the levies and dues.
He said they charged PTA dues, development levy, and staff motivation, which he had to pay for all his three children.
He pointed out that PTA executives were not accountable to school administrators but to their respective annual general meetings (AGMs).
He said they also collaborated with school administrators, adding that the practice whereby headmasters and bursars became the custodians of PTA books or signatories to their accounts was inappropriate.
PTA projects
According to him, over the years, PTAs provided support for the setting up of computer and information and technology laboratories, the operation of school clinics, and provided other services as standard responsibility depending on the age, location and development needs of the school.
He further said in some instances, PTAs had also provided other facilities such as water systems, classroom and dormitory blocks, teachers’ bungalows, and kitchen equipment, and supported the recruitment of kitchen staff to augment limited staff available in schools.
“Most schools have, therefore, benefited tremendously from the magnanimity of PTAs, in the form of educational facilities,” he said.
He therefore, called on the GES to collaborate with the National Council of Parent Teacher Associations to strengthen its activities to improve upon conditions in schools.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of the Volta Regional chapter of the council, Mr Christian Atsu, said PTAs were automatic corporate entities registered with the Registrar General’s Department.