Labour has called on the SNP to guarantee there will be no cuts to education in the next parliament.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said today that education will be her "defining mission" in the SNP's next term if she is re-elected.
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But Labour has accused her of repeatedly dodging their demands for the education budget to be protected in real terms.
Labour said the SNP manifesto does not protect the education budget in real terms, and when challenged on this previously the SNP have only promised to protect "nurseries and schools" in real terms.
Scottish Labour opportunity spokesman Iain Gray said: "Nicola Sturgeon's appearance on the Today programme raised more questions about their education policies.
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"Will the SNP protect the education budget in real terms across the next parliament?
"It is a question they have dodged over and over in the last few weeks.
"Labour has made a clear commitment - we'll use the new powers of the Scottish Parliament to tax the richest 1% so we can invest in schools, and stop the cuts to public services.
"We will protect the education budget in real terms.
"If Nicola Sturgeon goes on the media in the morning to say education was her 'defining mission of her next government' but in the afternoon cannot say that she would protect education in real terms, then it is clear that the SNP cannot be trusted on education.
"Labour has promised to increase spending on public services in real terms over the next parliament. We can make that promise because we will use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to raise more money.
"Faced with the choice between using the powers of the Scottish Parliament to invest in education or carrying on the cuts, Labour would use the powers to stop the cuts."
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