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By Johnathan Paoli
KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Sipho Hlomuka has welcomed more thousands of young people who officially began their roles as education assistants and general school assistants in public schools across the province on Monday.
Hlomuka lauded the programme’s dual benefit of addressing youth unemployment while improving the learning environment in schools.
“I take this opportunity to welcome these assistants and wish them well and to remind them of the importance of the role they will play in shaping the future of our learners.
“They must take the opportunity to make a positive impact change in the school and in the lives of the learners in the same way in which their lives are being changed by this incredible programme,” Hlomuka said in a statement.
This marks the latest phase of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), part of the national Presidential Employment Stimulus introduced in 2020 to tackle youth unemployment.
In this round, 45,658 youth between the ages of 18 and 34 have been placed in 5,752 schools, including primary, secondary, combined and learners with special education needs institutions across the province. All of them will be placed by the end of the month.
Their appointments follow a rigorous online application and school-based selection process, with all successful candidates required to provide police clearance certificates to ensure learner and staff safety.
The current phase of BEEI is aligned with the priorities of the 7th administration, with a particular focus on literacy, numeracy, science and technology.
The department has prioritised the appointment of unemployed qualified educators for roles within the programme.
These individuals are expected to bring subject knowledge and professional skills into classrooms while gaining practical experience and mentorship from full-time educators.
It said this approach would not only improve teaching and learning outcomes, but also help equip young professionals with the mentorship and practical exposure needed to advance their careers in education.
Beyond classroom support, the initiative also includes posts under the general school assistant category.
These include handypersons, who help maintain school infrastructure, and sports and enrichment assistants, who promote physical education, sport and cultural activities in schools.
Hlomuka said the programme was rooted in the constitutional principle of putting learners first.
“In giving effect to this, the department of education seeks to provide the best quality education to the learners. Therefore, priority is being given to applicants who are unemployed qualified educators,” the MEC said.
He called on the newly appointed assistants to embrace their roles with responsibility and passion.
INSIDE EDUCATION