More than 300 000 jobs have been successfully created through the Basic Education Presidential Youth Employment Stimulus.

The stimulus was introduced in December 2020, as the Department of Basic Education saw the need to hire more education assistants. 

“These posts came under threat due to schools experiencing financial distress, as a result of parents not being able to pay school fees because of the economic devastation of COVID-19,” the department explained.

Over 25 950 School Governing Body (SGB) funded posts in public and government-subsidised independent schools were saved.

The department worked closely with the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, as it handled the recruitment process through the SAYouth.mobi site.

“An added benefit of using the SAYouth.mobi site is that it can match job seekers to additional employment opportunities, in line with their interests and qualifications.”

After receiving more than 868 000 applications, a total of 300 000 applications were successful. 

Of the 300 000 successful applications, 200 000 people were hired to be education assistants and 100 000 were hired to be General School Assistants.

“The Basic Education sector created employment opportunities for a total of 319,091 education and general education assistants between the ages of 18 and 35 in the country.

Although the programme managed to create employment opportunities, it is coming to an end this month. 

“The programme, whose aim was to use direct public investment to create opportunities for employment and to provide support to workers negatively impacted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, comes to an end on 31 March 2021.”

The Department has assured all assistants that it is working with provincial education departments to ensure that all stipends are paid.

“Delays in payment in some areas were due to the capturing of the Education and General Education Assistants onto the government payment system, the persal or incorrect banking and incomplete personal documentation.”

“The steps taken include engaging with provincial Chief Finance Officers to ensure that all administrative challenges are addressed.” said the department.