Limpopo’s Basic Education Department reportedly issued a circular calling on schools to terminate the contracts of employees under the (PYEI) who were studying. This applied to both part-time and full-time studying.
The circular was not warmly received by some teacher unions and the School Governing Body Council of SA.
Coordinator Lala Maje says the requirements since the first phase of the program have stipulated that participants cannot be studying full-time or part-time or be involved in training.
She says the DBE is encouraging young people to study. This will however make them ineligible to be part of the initiative.
Maje explained that other departments are also implementing iterations of the PYEI that target different members of the youth population.
She said, “We are targeting a specific age category but if you look at the other stimulus that are implemented in the other departments, you find that they are targeting graduates, they are targeting youth that are in education. So the nation needs to look at the entire employment stimulus from the presidential perspective not only from basic education because this is not a basic education initiative”
Chief Director of Communications & Media at the DBE Elijah Mhlanga added that other departments have other projects that graduates can apply for
He said, “The initiative is meant at helping those who have absolutely nothing; not in education, not in employment, not in training. Those with no opportunities whatsoever. If you are studying go ahead and study but understand that you don’t meet the requirements of this initiative’.
The initiative is meant at helping those who have absolutely nothing; not in education, not in employment, not in training. Those with no opportunities whatsoever. If you are studying go ahead and study but understand that you don’t meet the requirements of this initiative. pic.twitter.com/YmuNlI5vYj
— Elijah Mhlanga (@ElijahMhlanga) April 19, 2022
Here's Who Qualifies For Teaching Assistants Jobs in Phase 3
Assistants that:
- Are Between the age of 18 and 35 years old. (18 or above when applying, or 34 turning 35 before 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 2
