Education Service Clarifies Strict Approval Process for All School Dues and Emphasizes Voluntary Payment
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a stern directive cautioning heads of schools across the country against the illegal practice of demanding or collecting unauthorized levies, often disguised as Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues or development levies. This move comes in response to recent reports indicating that various second-cycle institutions have been imposing financial charges on students without the necessary clearance from educational authorities.
In a statement released on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, and signed by the Head of Public Relations, Daniel Fenyí, the GES explicitly clarified that no school is authorized to collect any PTA or development levy without formal, prior approval from the mandated bodies. The statement aims to reinforce transparency and accountability in the financial dealings of educational institutions.
The Mandate for Levies: Approval Must Be Secured
The GES detailed the required chain of authorization that must be followed before any levy can be introduced:
Basic Schools: For primary and junior high schools, approval for any such levy must first be secured from the District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC), which then communicates the green light through the District Director of Education.
Second-Cycle Institutions: Senior high schools and similar institutions must obtain authorization directly from the Regional Director of Education.
Crucially, the Service emphasized that even when an approval is granted, payment of these levies remains strictly voluntary. The directive stressed that no student should be discriminated against, denied access to school services, or stripped of their rights and benefits for the non-payment of voluntary levies. This measure is intended to safeguard the interests of students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Strict Enforcement and Disciplinary Action Ahead
The GES statement also provided clarity on the collection process itself, stressing the boundaries between school staff and the PTA body. The directive mandates that no head, teacher, or staff member of the GES should be involved in the physical collection of PTA levies or the organization of fundraising activities. These financial activities are deemed the sole responsibility of the duly elected PTA executives.
To ensure immediate and widespread compliance, the GES has instructed all Regional and District Directors of Education to strictly enforce the new directive. The Directors are also tasked with actively monitoring the situation and reporting any breach or non-compliance by school heads for immediate disciplinary action. This clear threat of consequence underscores the Service’s commitment to eradicating the unauthorized collection of fees, which often creates an unfair financial burden on parents and guardians across Ghana.