Abankro: The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is urging Parliament to enact legislation to safeguard the existence and operations of Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) in basic and second-cycle schools. This, according to the Association, will prevent any future attempts by governments to disband PTAs.
According to Ghana News Agency, Reverend Isaac Owusu, President of GNAT, emphasized the critical role of PTAs in the effective management and development of schools. He highlighted during an interview on the sidelines of a week-long training program for selected teachers from four regions at Abankro in the Ejisu Municipality, that scrapping PTAs would be detrimental to education in Ghana.
Rev. Owusu stated, 'To prevent another scrapping of the PTA in future, there is the need for Parliament to enact a law that prevents any government from disbanding PTAs in our schools.' He added that such legislation should clearly define the responsibilities of both parents and teachers in nurturing learners to ensure their holistic development. This would allow parents, who are key stakeholders in education, to make input in the effective running of schools.
On the general well-being of Ghanaian workers, particularly teachers, Rev. Owusu called on the government to maintain the current positive economic outlook to enhance living conditions. He stressed that strengthening the value of the cedi was crucial for Ghanaian workers, many of whom have multiple dependents. 'It is our hope that the government will continue to adopt pragmatic measures to improve the economy and bring relief to the citizenry,' he stated.
Rev. Owusu expressed optimism that a stable economy would enable labor unions to negotiate for a reasonable salary increment for their members in 2026.
