The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Guidelines Committee on Thursday formally submitted its report to the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, setting the stage for wide reforms in how PTAs operate in schools across the country.
The committee, chaired by education advocate Kofi Asare, outlined measures designed to make PTAs more transparent, inclusive and focused on academic improvement rather than solely fundraising.
Among the key changes, only parents or guardians with children in a school can serve as PTA executives. Executives at the basic level will be limited to two terms of two years each, while those at the secondary level will serve a single two-year term.
Financial accountability is also being tightened. PTA accounts will be audited annually by the Auditor General, with reports submitted to relevant education authorities. School heads must approve transactions before PTA executives can access funds, and teachers will no longer be permitted to collect PTA levies or serve as signatories to accounts.
Teachers will, however, remain central in providing advice on academic performance, school discipline and policy updates to PTA members. Importantly, the guidelines emphasise that no child should be denied access to education because a parent has not paid a levy.
To strengthen oversight, any proposed PTA levy will require approval each year from the District Education Oversight Committee, based on detailed work plans and financial reports.
The new framework also seeks to broaden the role of PTAs beyond financial contributions. Parents are expected to become active partners in decision-making around school discipline, teaching quality and learning outcomes. An annual national PTA conference involving regional representatives and the Director General of the Ghana Education Service will also be held to promote dialogue and policy feedback.
Speaking at the submission, officials underscored that the effectiveness of the new measures will depend on both PTA compliance and strong oversight by the education authorities.
