“When My Mum Fought With My Headmaster — And Why Mahama’s Call for PTA Feels Personalâ€
A few years ago, my mum stormed into my school unannounced. I was in JHS 2, and honestly, I thought I was in trouble. But nope. She was furious because the headmaster had canceled the end-of-term awards without telling parents. What followed was a full-blown argument — right there in front of the staffroom. Parents stood on one side, teachers on the other, and I just sat there, wishing the earth would swallow me.
Looking back, that chaotic moment was actually a powerful one. It showed just how much parents want to be part of their kids’ education. And how quickly things fall apart when they’re not.
So when I heard that former President Mahama has directed the reinstatement of Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) in public schools — I paused. Not just because it's a political move (of course, everything in this country has a little politics), but because... it actually makes sense.
We don’t talk about it much, but PTAs were once the real MVPs of school development. You needed a new toilet block? PTA. You wanted extra classes? PTA. You couldn’t afford your kid’s levies? PTA had your back — at least, in the best-case scenarios.
But over time, things shifted. Some schools started misusing PTA funds. Some parents felt excluded. The Ministry stepped in, and before we knew it, PTAs were basically benched. Like that one talented player who made a mistake and never got back in the game.
Now, I’m not saying bringing them back will solve all our problems. I mean, let's be real — we still have schools under trees. But there's something special about having parents and teachers on the same team. When they actually talk to each other (not shout), when they brainstorm and plan, things change. Small things — like organizing clean-up days or buying textbooks. But also big things — like accountability and community involvement.
I’ve noticed that in schools where PTAs are active, students behave differently. Teachers tend to be more careful. Parents feel heard. It’s like everyone remembers, “Oh yeah, we’re all in this together.â€
But I do wonder — will this “reinstatement†be done properly? Or will it just be another announcement we forget in a week? Who decides how it runs — the school heads, or the parents? Will there be transparency, or are we setting up another stage for conflict?
In my opinion, it’ll only work if we treat it less like a policy and more like a relationship. A real partnership. With disagreements, sure. But also with shared goals.
Anyway, maybe I'm just nostalgic. Or maybe I just remember my mum standing up for what she thought was right, even if it embarrassed me to death. But honestly, wouldn’t it be nice if more parents actually felt that connected to their kids’ schools again?
What do you think — can we really fix education without involving the people closest to the kids?