Parent Associations Can Fundraise to Support Free SHS – GES

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The Ghana Education Service (GES) has unveiled guidelines promoting the role of Parents Associations (PAs) in supporting the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy. According to the GES, PAs are now empowered to explore various means of fundraising for school development, while being explicitly prohibited from imposing any form of fees on students or pupils.

Related To This: Review Free SHS For Parents To Assist You - NUGS To Government

This landmark move is encapsulated in a comprehensive guidelines document released by GES to steer the activities of Parents Associations across Pre-tertiary schools. It comes in response to concerns regarding the functioning of Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) that were purportedly hindering the government's objective of ensuring universal access to education, especially at the SHS level. The imposition of excessive levies by certain PTAs detracted from the intended purpose of the Free SHS policy, prompting a swift response from GES.

In light of these challenges, GES initiated measures to suspend the imposition of levies in all schools, concurrently reorganizing PTAs into Parent Associations (PAs) with the goal of limiting the involvement of school management and staff. The GES underscored the need for PAs to operate independently, distinct from the day-to-day administration of the school.

The guidelines empower PAs to undertake projects supporting the development and progress of affiliated schools. Nevertheless, GES emphasized that the ultimate authority over the management and execution of such projects lies with the school management, without any interference from PAs. Notably, the document also accentuates PAs' capacity to extend support to school teachers and staff through incentive packages and welfare schemes, ensuring that no student faces discrimination or preference based on these offerings.

Moreover, the GES clarified that, besides contributions made by PAs, individual parents or guardians may voluntarily donate or contribute funds to the school, explicitly stipulating that such donations should not confer preferential treatment or privileges to any student in terms of facility access or usage.

Related To This: EduWatch Report Reveals Financial Burden On Parents Under Free SHS Program

Furthermore, while emphasizing the autonomy of PAs, the guidelines clarify that although school management should not bear signatory responsibilities for PAs’ activities, they are permitted to engage without assuming liability for decisions made. PAs are mandated to submit their annual activities and plans for school management approval.


In maintaining financial transparency, the guidelines enforce the requirement for annual audits of PAs' accounts, with audit reports being channeled to Regional Directors for subsequent submission to the Director General of the Ghana Education Service.

Find the guidelines below

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