The Public Relations Officer of the National Council of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Irene Sam, has appealed to private schools to review the prices of textbooks supplied to pupils to reduce the financial burden on parents.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, she said parents appreciated the quality of teaching and support provided by private schools but continued to face concerns over the cost of textbooks and other learning materials.
According to Ms Sam, school authorities sometimes fail to adequately explain the reasons behind textbook prices and related policies, leaving parents frustrated and contributing to disagreements between parents and school management.
“We appreciate the teaching and the support they are giving our children. But we will plead with them to review the prices so that parents are not unnecessarily burdened,” she said.
Ms Sam acknowledged that private schools operate as businesses and require revenue to sustain their operations and reinvest in facilities and educational services.
However, she cautioned that the pursuit of profit should not result in parents being subjected to excessive charges.
“We know that the school is a business venture that looks for profits, and the proceeds are sometimes reinvested in the school management and operations, but it shouldn’t be an avenue for extortion,” she said.
She also raised concerns about schools preventing parents from purchasing textbooks from the open market, calling for greater flexibility and transparency in the sale of learning materials.
According to Ms Sam, one of the justifications given by some schools for selling textbooks directly to parents is the need to ensure that all pupils use the same materials, allowing teachers to work with uniform books in the classroom.
She noted, however, that the arrangement could create financial difficulties for parents, particularly those who may not be able to afford all the required books at once.
Ms Sam explained that when schools provide textbook lists, some parents may opt for cheaper alternatives from the open market. However, those books may not be the same editions or materials preferred by the school.
She added that some parents may also be unable to purchase all the required books immediately, potentially leaving their children without the necessary materials while teaching and learning continues.
“When it is procured in the schools, every child gets all the books to participate in teaching and learning,” she explained.
She therefore urged school authorities to engage parents more openly on textbook pricing and explore flexible arrangements that would ensure pupils have access to the necessary learning materials without placing undue financial pressure on families.
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