Earlier this year, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced they received more than 6 million applications for the Teaching assistant and general school assistant posts. Only around 278 000 positions were available.
The DBE have since announced that they have deployed officials around the country to monitor, support and provide oversight on progress of the program as many of the posts have been filled. Many of the participants in the program have already started to undertake their duties.
"The recruits have been furnished with the relevant job descriptions and assigned to mentors, whose task is to provide guidance, advice and support for the duration of their contracts. The Assistants are currently undergoing orientation at the schools that they’ve been allocated to" said the DBE’ in a statement.
They also announced that the recruits will also receive relevant training in financial management, digital literacy, Microsoft Office and technical skills for artisans. This will broaden their skill base and will hopefully benefit the schools where they serve.
The department said they felt better prepared for the second phase of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI). They added that school principals found that the SA Youth mobi online application process removed the blame from the schools in terms of who is appointed.
The program aims to help address poverty alleviation, mass employment, skilling of youth, reduction of youth unemployment, creation of social values, and the provision of decent job opportunities.
The department has called on the schools to use all the skills and talents offered by their newest recruits.
