President’s employment programme to create jobs in schools
As part of President Cyril Ramaphosa's Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, 200,000 Education Assistants and 100,000 General School Assistants are to be absorbed into the basic education system.
The 300,000 employment opportunities are targeted at youth between the ages of 18 and 35 years old. Recruitment will take place at the community level, with schools required to prioritise candidates living near the school. Education Assistants will support teachers and learners in the classroom. General School Assistants will help schools to comply with Covid-19 protocols while making sure that teaching and learning take place in a safe, secure and hygienic environment.
The initiative will be achieved through the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) which seeks to address Covid-19 academic disruptions as well as some long-enduring challenges in the system.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has partnered with Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator to digitise the recruitment processes across the provinces. The department has indicated that an orientation manual has been prepared and digitised to ensure that the recruits get trained on their roles and responsibilities. In addition, various training programmes have been prepared to equip successful candidates with skills that will ensure they are ready to take up their duties as well as ensuring that they gain meaningful experience to improve their employability beyond the BEEI programme.
The recruits will start working in public schools across the country from 1 December 2020.
