Department of Basic Education aims to create 287 000 jobs

The Department of Basic Education calls on unemployed youth to apply for phase 2 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative that opened today (September 27).

According to Department of Basic Education head of communication, Elijah Mhlanga, to help mitigate the challenges brought about by Covid-19, the department aims to provide 287 000 unemployed young people, (+/-192 000 education assistants and +/-95 000 general school assistants) employment and training opportunities in the education sector. This forms part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI)-Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), which forms part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES).

“Youth, between the ages of 18 and 35, who are currently neither in education or training, nor receiving any form of government grant, as well as young people with a disability, are eligible and encouraged to apply for this enriching experience,” he said.

Mhlanga added that candidates who are selected for placement will receive training and this will equip them for future employment opportunities.

He said all successful candidates will be placed in schools for four months, from 1 November 2021 to 31 March 2022.

The following opportunities will be available:

• Education assistant – curriculum
• Education assistant – ICT/e-Cadres
• Education assistant – reading champions
• General school assistant – child and youth care worker
• General school assistant – handyman (no matric required)
• General school assistant – sports and enrichment agent (no matric required)

To qualify as an education assistant, applicants would need to have passed matric English, while an NQF Level 4, 6 and 7 qualification certificate would be an advantage.

However, for placement as a General School Assistant, a matric certificate is not required for Infrastructure support and Sports and Enrichment Agents, although Trade certificates will be an added advantage.

“To work in the education environment, you must have a good ability to work with people and within groups, have good communication skills and be a good listener and have interest in academics,” he said.

To apply for placement, residents can visit sayouth.mobi. A profile needs to be created to submit an application. Applications must submit online and will close on October 3, 2021. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, no walk-ins will be allowed in schools.

Here’s a step by step guideline on how to apply for the second phase of the BEEI 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/OtTLMMxi19

— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) September 27, 2021