Upper West PTAs objects to GES directive on PTA levies

Wa, Feb. 26, GNA - The Upper West Regional Council of Chairmen of Parent/Teacher Associations has objected to the Ghana Education Service's directive instructing all heads of Senior High schools to incorporate PTA levies into the mainstream accounts of their schools. In a resolution adapted at an emergency general meeting at Wa, they said PTAs, as non-governmental organizations, were not under any government subvention and could therefore not be under the financial control of the GES.

The resolution was in response to a circular issued by the Director General of the GES instructing heads of second cycle schools to incorporate all PTA levies into their mainstream accounts as a result of some lapses detected in the administration of such funds in some of the institutions.

The resolution said the directive was a violation of section two (8) on PTA levies in the policy guidelines on schools fees of Senior High schools.

It urged the Director General of the GES to disclose those schools whose PTAs had sole signatures to the PTA levies accounts without the headmasters or their representatives. "It is the democratic and constitutional right of the PTAs to contribute our levies at will and also act as signatories but that does not mean that we use these levies without the consent and approval of school authorities and the other stakeholders". The resolution said the directive could lead to the dissolution of the PTA concept and eventual collapse of the PTA concept in the country.