• This year’s polls present a good chance for politicians to use education to sale their manifestos.
• Politicians have an opportunity to put the education sector on a campaign agenda.
• Politicians must state how they will provide enough money to the education sector.

Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has advised politicians taking part in the forthcoming General elections to clearly state how they are going to provide enough money to the education sector.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Organization Executive Director George Hamusunga said politicians have an opportunity to try and put the education sector on a campaign agenda.
Mr. Hamusunga stated that this year’s polls present a good chance for politicians to use education as one of the sectors to sale their manifestos because citizens are interested in education and they want a government that will be interested in investing in the sector.
“This year the only prospect that we have is that we have an opportunity to try and put the education sector on a campaign agenda. We urge political parties that are participating in this year’s elections, to tell us how they are going to deal with the debt, to free enough money to go towards education. We want them to tell us how they are going to ensure that vulnerable children, who are unable to access education, are able to access education.”
“Elections for this year present quite a good opportunity for politicians to use education as one of the sectors that they can sale their manifestos. And people are interested in education, they want to see a government that will be interested in investing in their own people,” Mr. Hamusunga said.
He added that those vying for public office are expected to put education on the top agenda so that citizens can be able to hold them accountable to the policies that they will give this year.
“Be it the ruling part or the opposition, we expect them to put education on the top agenda so that come next year, we are able to hold them accountable to the policies that they will give this year.”
“So we have an opportunity this year to revolutionize the education policies and thinking around what politicians can pledge for education going forward,” he added.