NAQEZ proposes education levy as sector share in 2026 budget falls to 13%

The National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) has called for the introduction of an education levy, which has strong potential to mobilise additional resources and strengthen Zambia’s education sector.

NAQEZ Executive Director, Dr. Aaron Chansa, said the organization had expected the 2026 National Budget to allocate at least 20 percent to the education sector, and not the 13 percent announced by the Minister of Finance and National Planning.

Chansa in a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, said although the sector’s allocation had increased in nominal terms from K31.5 billion in 2025 to K33 billion in 2026, its overall share of the budget has dropped from 14.5 percent to 13 percent.

He said with the monumental challenges facing education and in line with SDG 4 and UNESCO benchmarks the Minister should have gone well above the 18percent threshhold.

“While we commend government for sustaining free education, expanding the school feeding programme and pledging to complete hostels at UNZA and CBU, this reduced funding share will severely limit progress,” Chansa stated.

He said as a result of the reduction in funding, Zambia in 2026 would not see salary scale upgrades for teachers, effective implementation of the new curriculum, and massive expansion of school infrastructure.

“The government will fail to construct King Lewanika and FTJ Universities, or recruit the much-needed 10,000 teachers (only 3,500 will be employed, instead),” Chansa stated.

He said to bridge the funding gap, Parliament should also realign the 2026 National Budget in order to increase support to quality education.

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