• Each party should outline how the sector will be funded.
• Most electoral competitors have not given maximum attention to educational issues.
• The blacklisting of education on the campaign menu must worry all Zambians.
National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) has challenged all political parties contesting next month’s general elections to outline how the Education sector will be funded and to what extent Government will provide free education to citizens.
Organization Executive Director Aaron Chansa told Money FM News that almost all the 16 contesting political parties have not explained what Zambians should expect to see in the education sector after the voting period.
Mr. Chansa said there is need for each party to explain how it intends to review school and university curricular as well as plans to make the system resilient against pandemics.
“We are wondering why most electoral competitors have not given maximum attention to educational issues. This blacklisting of education on the campaign menu must worry all Zambians. Before the poll day, we demand serious pronouncements from all the 16 political parties on a number of pertinent educational issues. Each party should outline how the sector will be funded and to what extent Government will provide free education to citizens,” Mr. Chansa said.
Mr. Chansa added that citizens will also expect all the 16 Presidential candidates to lay out plans on how they will engage the more than 58,000 unemployed teachers, among other challenges affecting the sector.
“The Zambian people will also expect all the 16 political parties to lay out plans on how they will engage the more than 58,000 unemployed teachers , upgrade teachers, gazette newly upgraded schools ,confirm thousands of teachers and make education available to all learners amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Between today and 12th August, we hope to see all aspiring leaders use public and private media platforms to state road maps for the attainment of inclusive and quality education in Zambia,” he stated.
