Almost two in every three youth in South Africa are unemployed as the unemployment rate in the category stands at a staggering 65.5%.
One programme designed to tackle youth unemployment in South Africa is the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI).
An iteration of the PYEI provides employment opportunities for young people at schools in their communities. The PYEI initiative in the Basic Education sector created around 280 000 employment opportunities for general school assistants and education assistant vacancies. The programme will now enter its third phase.
The second phase of the programme came to an end at the end of March 2022, with phase three beginning in April.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) explained that youth appointed at schools will be offered new fixed-term contracts which will conclude at the end of August 2022.
“It was decided that some candidates no longer meet the requirements to remain in the programme, therefore not everyone will remain in the programme” explained the DBE.
The DBE added, “All schools are required to complete and submit the details of all the youth meeting the requirements to be transitioned from Phase II to Phase III. A type-form is provided for this purpose through the Provincial Education Department (PEDs). The completion of the type-form is mandatory”.
Here’s Which Teaching Assistants Qualify For Phase 3
- Are Between the age of 18 and 35 years old. (18 or above when applying, or 34 turning 35 before the end of March 2023);
- Are Residing in South Africa with a valid RSA ID card, book or valid passport and work permit;
- are Residing in a location within a 5-8 kilometre radius of the school
- Are the only one with this opportunity at home (One Opportunity per household);
- Meet the requirements per category and sub-category applied for;
- Attended work all days and performed the work assigned to them;
- Are Not in Education, Not in Employment and Not in Training (NEET), you can not be involved in any form of studies for the entire period;
- Are Not studying part-time or full-time
- Are Not participating in a Learnership
- Are Not receiving government grants including NSFAS, Funza Lushaka, including the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
- Are Not receding any other form of Stipend, wage or salary;
- Don't have a criminal record;
- Was not unfairly advantaged above others due to staff members (SMT or SGB) knowing them;
- Attended all the compulsory training and received certificates(Generic Orientation, SOP for Covid-19, NSSF) and
- Was not involved in misconduct during Phase 1 or Phase 2
