School Assistants and the Basic Education Employment Intervention
By Clotilde Angelucci
Who are school assistants?
Towards the end of 2020, the Department of Basic Education recruited over 300 000 Education Assistants and General Assistants for the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI). This initiative is part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Plan, designed to confront the economic impact of the pandemic by creating new opportunities for growth and renewal.
According to an article on Business Insider, of the 300,000 successful candidates, 200,000 were education assistants and 100,000 were general school assistants.
Why Public Employment Must Work
Youth Capital is a long-term campaign with an Action Plan to shift gears on youth unemployment. According to the Plan, one of the 10 key action points is to Make Public Employment Work for young people and their communities. The recently implemented Presidential Stimulus Package, with particular reference to the School Assistant positions implemented by the Department of Basic Education, is exactlythe kind of intervention we believe could have a real impact on young South Africans in their journey to sustainable livelihoods. However, these programmes need to be implemented with a clear long-term plan, rooted in the realities on the ground. How can we make these programmes not only relevant but also effective? We need your help to make public employment opportunities, like the BEEI, work better as stepping stones into sustainable livelihoods and decent employment.
How can you help?
If you are currently or have recently been, a school assistant, share your experience with us by filling the survey below. Your voice and opinions are important and can help those who design and implement these programmes make them more relevant.
If you are a school that hosted assistants, please share this survey with a member in a management position.
