The Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) continues to make a significant impact in addressing youth unemployment in South Africa. By creating job opportunities for thousands of young people, the programme is transforming access to the labour market for the country’s most marginalised youth.
Also known as the Teachers Assistants programme, it has seen 200,000 young people placed in public school all across the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently visited Sefako Makgatho Primary School in Saulsville, Tshwane, to see the programme’s impact firsthand. During his visit, the President engaged with learners, educators, and beneficiaries of the initiative, reaffirming government’s commitment to supporting young people and expanding employment pathways.
Speaking at the event, President Ramaphosa acknowledged the harsh socio-economic conditions facing South Africa’s youth and praised the BEEI for being a “phenomenal programme” that offers real hope and opportunity. Since its launch, the BEEI has provided employment to more than two million young South Africans.
“I'm glad to be here and to see you all. When I made the announcement a little while ago that we will be having up to 200 000 of you in all our schools, I did expect that you would all be coming through, and now I can see that you are real people, that you exist.
“We are so delighted to have you as our teacher assistants, you are assisting in our schools [and] a very important area of our nation's lives, education. You are the ones who are going to be preparing these young people for the future of our country that we all desire,” the President told the young teacher assistants.
“I'm delighted that it is through you, young people, that we are doing this. Yes, I know that your own situation is not the most ideal. We are working very hard to create more permanent positions for you in many, many ways in the economy," said Ramaphosa.
The initiative has been rolled out across more than 25,000 schools nationwide, making it one of the largest youth employment interventions in the country. With plans to elevate the programme further, government is working to ensure that even more young people gain meaningful work experience while contributing to the improvement of basic education in their communities.
As the BEEI continues to grow, it not only addresses youth unemployment but also strengthens the quality of education by providing much-needed support to schools and educators across South Africa.
