The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has confirmed the launch of Phase 5 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI). The initiative, part of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), has already provided more than one million employment opportunities to young people across South Africa.
Phase 5 will focus on candidates aged between 18 and 34 - those turning 35 before the end of March 2026. The new phase is expected to create at least 200,000 employment opportunities for unemployed youth.
Application Opening Date
Applications for teaching assistant positions under Phase 5 will open on 22 April 2025. The DBE has encouraged youth to monitor its official platforms for updates on the opening of teaching assistant applications.
The DBE will communicate formally through its platforms, including media statements, once the system is ready to launch,
SAYouth.mobi Will Be the Only Platform for Applications
To apply, candidates must register on the SAYouth.mobi platform. The DBE has confirmed that this will be the only official platform used to recruit for the 2025 teaching assistant programme.
The DBE will be working with SAYouth.mobi for the recruitment of young people. This will be the only source for recruitment.
The department also warned applicants against using unauthorised platforms, as scammers have previously used the PYEI brand to solicit personal information from young people.
The SAYouth.mobi platform is zero-rated, meaning no data is needed to access or use it.
Young people should ensure they are registered on SAYouth.mobi, or update their login details if previously registered, to be ready when applications open,
Additional Requirements and Benefits
Applicants are encouraged to obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), as this will be a requirement during the application process.
Successful candidates gain valuable work experience and develop key soft skills. These teaching assistant positions are paid, with participants receiving a monthly stipend.
The funding for Phase 5 will come from the National Treasury and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), with UIF allocations managed by the Industrial Development Corporation.
