GES says NCPTA has no authority to impose prospectus purchases on schools

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has clarified that the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA) has no authority to represent the Service, public schools, parents or students in commercial agreements.

The clarification follows recent announcements about a reported partnership between the NCPTA and Prospectus Ghana Limited (EduPack PGL) to market and sell products across about 200 schools.

The GES said it has an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prospectus Ghana Limited, but stressed that the purchase of the company’s educational products is voluntary.

“The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA) has not been mandated, appointed, or authorised by the Ghana Education Service to represent, speak, or enter into commercial agreements on behalf of the Service, public schools, parents, or students,” the GES said in a statement.

According to the Service, Parent-Teacher Associations operate at the individual school level and work directly with local school authorities on matters concerning learner development and school welfare.

It said the GES does not recognise a national PTA structure with the authority to issue directives, negotiate sales arrangements or represent all parents and schools under the Service.

The GES further explained that although its MoU with Prospectus Ghana Limited allows the company to introduce its educational products and services to schools, it does not make the purchase of such products compulsory.

“The MoU does not make the acquisition of Prospectus Ghana products compulsory, nor does it empower any external body to impose them as required school items,” the Service said.

The GES cautioned school authorities, parents and third-party vendors against arrangements that could result in unauthorised fees, compulsory product purchases or unapproved financial levies in public schools.