Concerned parents protest against illegal PTA levy at SWESBU

Some concerned parents of students at the Swedru School of Business (SWESBU) have petitioned the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council and the Director-General of GES to investigate the alleged collection of compulsory PTA levies from final Year students without authorisation from the Council.

According to the parents, the final year students were driven away from school by the authorities under the instruction of PTA executives for nonpayment of ¢45.00 before writing their final paper (social studies) last Tuesday.

The spokesperson of the parents, Mr Kofi Andah told the Media that it was outrageous and mischievous for the authorities of school and PTA to flout directives of the Council to suspend collection of PTA levy until matters of concerns were addressed.

It would be recalled that some months back the GES Council directed the suspension of Payment of PTA levies in all Senior High Schools (SHSs) till discussions with the National Union Executives of PTA were completed.

He said when some parents received messages from their wards that the authorities of the school would refuse to sign their clearance forms for non- payment of PTA levy, there was no option than to pay to save their children from harassment.

Mr Andah appealed to the GES Council and the Director-General of GES to investigate the matter since some students whose parents could not pay the levy had their clearance forms not signed.

According to him, the levy was a special fund to be used to complete a girl’s dormitory project started by the government over five years ago.

Mr Andah further said the authorities claimed they had a letter written by the PTA executives authorizing SWESBUS authorities to collect the levy.

He, therefore, appealed to the GES Council and Director-General of GES to move swiftly to stop such unauthorized collection of PTA levies from parents in order not to defeat the free SHS policy.

Mr Kobena Andam, a parent who spoke to the Media claimed similar levies were being charged by some SHS in Agona West apart from SWEBU and called for investigations into the matter.

When Mr Sakyi Sam, PTA Chairman of SWEBU was contacted over the issue, he explained that the School had not violated the directives from GES Council because no money has been collected from Parents.

This was because the PTA was waiting for the National Union of PTA to arrive at a conclusion with the GES Council.