President Mahama calls for reinstatement of PTAs in schools

President John Dramani Mahama has urged the full reinstatement of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in schools nationwide, arguing that sidelining parents from school governance has undermined accountability and community involvement.

Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) at the Jubilee House in Accra on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Mr Mahama described the marginalisation of PTAs as misguided.

“The trend everywhere in the world is to give communities a say in how their schools are run,” he said. “I felt very scandalised when PTAs were virtually shoved aside and not allowed to be a part of the running of our schools, especially at the secondary level.”

PTAs were significantly reformed following the 2019 abolition of mandatory PTA levies under the Free Senior High School policy. The Ghana Education Service later restructured them into Parent Associations, subjecting them to strict financial regulations. While intended to prevent fund misuse and protect families from unauthorised charges, this reduced parents’ influence in supporting school infrastructure and oversight.

Civil society groups, such as the African Foundation for Educational Development, warned at the time that the changes could diminish community engagement in schools.

The Ministry of Education has since confirmed efforts to reintegrate PTAs into daily school operations, recognising their vital role.
Mr Mahama pledged to collaborate with GNAT and other unions to restore PTAs effectively. “PTA participation must be fully restored so that they work with teachers and school administration to make sure our children are getting a good outcome in terms of teaching and learning,” he added.

Addressing broader teacher concerns, including accommodation, pensions, and welfare, the President announced that all newly constructed basic schools would include residential facilities for teachers. “We have passed a directive that every school being built at the basic level must come with accompanying accommodation for teachers,” he said.

He also unveiled plans to partner with the Teachers’ Fund on a home ownership scheme, enabling teachers to acquire homes through salary deductions over time. “They should be able to retire in dignity and not have to quarrel over family property,” he noted.

On pensions, Mr Mahama promised imminent discussions with the Trades Union Congress and organised labour to consider a national conference to review the current pension structure and address persistent grievances.

Providing an update on education reforms, he revealed that the government received the final report from the national education review committee the previous week. He assured GNAT leaders of full stakeholder consultation before implementation, highlighting a proposal to decentralise school supervision to the district level. “It is easier for the education service to supervise and monitor schools at the district level than to try and do it from the centre,” he noted.

Commenting on the economy, Mr Mahama reported a 5.3 per cent growth rate in the first quarter of 2025, attributing the cedi’s appreciation to improved real incomes and more predictable business operations.

He praised GNAT for acquiring the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre and proposed a partnership with the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to finance treatment for non-communicable diseases like cancer and heart conditions. Additionally, he commended GNAT’s investments in businesses such as Aviance, encouraging the union to expand its shareholding in viable ventures to strengthen its financial base and enhance member services.

Concluding the meeting, Mr Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to the teaching profession. “A happy, well-motivated teacher leads to positive learning outcomes. Our children deserve that,” he said.