The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA) has urged its members to dismiss any directives from the Ghana Education Service (GES) pertaining to operational guidelines that were not formulated by the NCPTA itself.
Emphasizing that the GES lacks the authority to regulate the affairs of a private body beyond its jurisdiction, the General Secretary of the NCPTA, Raphael Kofi Gapson, communicated this stance through a circular to members, stressing the collaborative partnership between the NCPTA and the education authorities.
In response to the circular, Mr Gapson informed the Daily Graphic that the GES has yet to respond to their letter, which requested a halt to the guidelines for further deliberation.
Citing legal complexities in the matter, Mr Gapson explained that the NCPTA chose a diplomatic approach by initially reaching out to the GES through written communication and advocacy. If the GES fails to respond, the NCPTA is prepared to escalate the matter further.
“The GES/Ministry of Education must know that we are partners and collaborators, and not part of their regulatory agencies,” the General Secretary of the NCPTA, Raphael Kofi Gapson, indicated in a circular to members.
“They have not called us, they have not even acknowledged receipt of the letter, and so, as of now, we are still waiting,” he said, stressing that “this is an issue we would deal with appropriately.”
Highlighting the autonomy of the association, the circular declared that the NCPTA operates independently of the GES and the Ministry of Education.
The association, registered as a private corporate entity under the Office of the Registrar General since 2013, possesses a constitution with defined structures.
The circular vehemently opposed any attempt to change the association’s name to “Parent Association (PA),” asserting that such an alteration would be illegal, unlawful, and unethical.
The NCPTA granted the GES until the end of the week to respond, indicating that their next course of action would be determined by the GES’s reaction.
In a separate development, the NCPTA called on the GES to revert to the original name, Parent Teacher Association (PTA), from the imposed name Parent Association (PA). The NCPTA criticized the new nomenclature, asserting that it was perceived as an imposition by its members. The NCPTA’s letter to the GES on this matter was dated January 9, 2024, and signed by the National President, Christian Atsu Aikins. The GES has reportedly received a copy of the letter.
The context of the dispute revolves around guidelines developed by the GES under the new name “Parent Associations (PAs),” recognizing the collaboration between school heads and PTAs. However, the NCPTA expressed concerns over inconsistencies in the guidelines, particularly regarding autonomy and conflicting provisions related to the Director-General’s involvement in financial matters.