Mahama pledges to rebuild PTAs and provide teacher housing in education overhaul

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 criticized the marginalization of PTAs as misguided.

“The global trend is to involve communities in the management of their schools,” he stated. “I was quite shocked when PTAs were essentially sidelined and excluded from participating in the administration of our schools, particularly at the secondary level.”

Following the 2019 elimination of mandatory PTA levies under the Free Senior High School policy, PTAs underwent significant reforms. The Ghana Education Service subsequently transformed them into Parent Associations, imposing strict financial regulations. Although these measures aimed to prevent the misuse of funds and shield families from unauthorized fees, they inadvertently diminished parents’ ability to contribute to school infrastructure and oversight.

Civil society organizations, including the African Foundation for Educational Development, cautioned at that time that these changes could lead to a decline in community involvement in schools.

The Ministry of Education has since acknowledged the importance of reintegrating PTAs into the daily operations of schools. Mr. Mahama committed to working alongside GNAT and other unions to effectively restore PTAs. “PTA involvement must be completely reinstated so they can collaborate with teachers and school administration to ensure our children achieve positive outcomes in their education,” he emphasized.

In addressing wider teacher issues, such as housing, pensions, and welfare, the President revealed that all newly built basic schools would include housing for teachers. “We have issued a directive that every school constructed at the basic level must provide accommodation for teachers,” he stated.

He also announced plans to collaborate with the Teachers’ Fund on a home ownership initiative, allowing teachers to purchase homes through gradual salary deductions. “They should be able to own their homes,” he said.