Latest news with #BasicEducationEmploymentInitiative
TimesLIVE
11-06-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
'It's phenomenal': Ramaphosa hails teacher assistant jobs for helping millions of young people
President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised the basic education department's teacher assistant programme, saying it has been successful in providing millions of unemployed South Africans with job opportunities. The six-month Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) — Basic Education Employment Initiative offers 200,000 unemployed young people between the ages of 18 and 34 the opportunity to be employed as education assistants and general school assistants in state schools. Phase V started in June, and successful candidates will receive a monthly stipend of R4,000 and an additional R30 for data. Briefing the media on Tuesday, Ramaphosa described the programme as 'phenomenal'. 'It is an overarching programme that covers almost all our 25,000 schools. I'm pleased that the basic education department has taken it on, working with the Presidency through the PYEI, and the labour and employment department has also assisted with the funds.' He said he wants the programme to be strengthened, adding it prepares young people for the formal job sector. 'It is proving to be beneficial in many ways. First, to the young people we bring in — young people who have not had jobs. So we bring them into formal job situations. They come into a formalised institution and they learn a lot. They gain a lot of knowledge, discipline, management skills and people skills to be able to interact with difficult young people, and they are excelling. 'This is usually empowering for these young people and we've had more than two million of them.' South Africa's unemployment rate has increased to 32.9%, with youth unemployment rising to 46.1%, leaving millions of young people out of work. Ramaphosa said while he would like the programme to be longer, insufficient resources make it difficult. Despite this, he said the programme is becoming influential globally. 'This is becoming a world-renowned programme. Many other countries are looking at what we are doing here and some of them are going to copy what we are doing, so we are trailblazers in many ways. This is one programme where there hasn't been corruption; it's been flawless and well executed.'
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Cyril Ramaphosa's Basic Education Employment Initiative empowers 200,000 youth
President Ramaphosa celebrates 200,000 young South Africans starting work at schools through the Basic Education Employment Initiative, gaining vital skills and experience for future opportunities. President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the return of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), describing it as a vital pathway to work experience and skills development for South Africa's youth. In his weekly letter to the nation, Ramaphosa highlighted that around 200,000 young people are starting jobs at over 20,000 schools across the country. 'Today marks the 'first day at school' for about 200,000 young people; they are not arriving at school as learners, but as working adults,' he said. This marks the fifth phase of the BEEI, South Africa's largest youth employment programme, now funded by the UIF Labour Activation Programme and national government. The initiative, a key component of the Presidential Employment Stimulus launched in 2020, returns after a year's pause, aiming to bring 'hope, energy and incomes' to areas where job opportunities are often scarce. The programme provides participants with essential work skills, including time management, teamwork, IT, administration, and problem-solving.
The Citizen
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Ramaphosa urges employers to give young people their 'next opportunity'
Monday marks the 'first day of school' for about 200 000 young people at more than 20 000 institutions across the country, where they'll be equipped with essential work skills. As the fifth phase of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) gets underway, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged employers to give young people their 'next opportunity, mentor their enthusiasm and foster their potential'. Around 200 000 young people will experience their 'first day of school' on Monday — not as students, but as participants at more than 20 000 institutions across the country, where they'll be equipped with essential work skills. However, this time, they're not arriving as pupils — they're stepping into schools as working adults. These young participants are part of the fifth phase of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), South Africa's largest youth employment programme to date. 'New dawn' Writing in his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said the BEEI brings 'hope, energy and incomes to places where opportunities are too often out of reach'. 'This programme is designed to develop the work skills that employers say they need, such as time management, task management, teamwork, problem-solving, IT, admin and much more'. ALSO READ: US visit came amid 'increasing strain' between two countries, Ramaphosa says Helping hand Ramaphosa said every participant has their own hopes and dreams for their future beyond this programme. 'As a society, we cannot leave young people to navigate the transition into work alone. Together, we need to step up to assist them. These young people will leave the school environment having shown up, contributed and made a difference. 'They will have worked in high-pressure environments with limited resources and will understand deadlines and responsibility. To employers, we say: give them their next opportunity, mentor their enthusiasm, help take their potential to the next level,' Ramaphosa said. Entrepreneurs Ramaphosa said the country also needs to reach those young people who want to be entrepreneurs. 'We need to find new ways to support those who want to create their own jobs and local value, to connect them to finance, training, markets and networks. 'Through the Presidential Employment Stimulus, we have demonstrated the government's capacity to address the youth unemployment problem. Through this programme, we have been able to give young people work experience and a pathway to formal employment or even further education,' Ramaphosa said. ALSO READ: 'Events beyond our shores should not divide us' — Ramaphosa
SowetanLIVE
23-04-2025
- Business
- SowetanLIVE
Government offers 200,000 teacher assistant positions for unemployed youth
The basic education department has announced that applications for the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) — Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) Phase V are open. This opportunity will offer 200,000 unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 34 positions as education assistants and general school assistants in public schools. 'The focus for BEEI Phase V is to provide support to educators to contribute towards improved learning outcomes. To support the 7th Administration Priorities, the initiative will allocate more opportunities towards reading champions to support the improvement of reading and literacy in foundation and intermediate phases,' the department said. Successful candidates will receive a stipend of R4,000 per month (less than 1% UIF contribution) and R30 for data. Applications opened on April 22 and will close on May 9. Interviews will be conducted between May 19 and 31, and contracts will begin on June 2 and last until November. Schools have been advised to provide opportunities for disabled youth and women, as well as to prioritise youth in communities where the schools are located. 'In this way, the youth do not have to spend money on transportation between their homes and the schools where they will be employed.' The departments encouraged youth to apply for the opportunities 'so that they are included in these massive job opportunities, which can propel them into even greater opportunities and allow them to develop as professionals'. How to apply: Go to the SA Youth mobi website and register on the platform. The site is free and does not require any data. If you have already registered, simply log in using the same details. Once registered, opportunities at the school nearest to the address you have provided will appear, allowing you to submit your application. If no opportunities are visible, you can search for 'Education Assistant' or 'General Assistant.' Who can apply: South African citizens aged between 18-34; Must have a South African bank account; Must live within 5km of an urban school or 30km of a farm/rural school; and The phase is open to youth who have not participated in the program before. TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
23-04-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Government offers 200,000 teacher assistant positions for unemployed youth
The basic education department has announced that applications for the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) — Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) Phase V are open. This opportunity will offer 200,000 unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 34 positions as education assistants and general school assistants in public schools. 'The focus for BEEI Phase V is to provide support to educators to contribute towards improved learning outcomes. To support the 7th Administration Priorities, the initiative will allocate more opportunities towards reading champions to support the improvement of reading and literacy in foundation and intermediate phases,' the department said. Successful candidates will receive a stipend of R4,000 per month (less than 1% UIF contribution) and R30 for data. Applications opened on April 22 and will close on May 9. Interviews will be conducted between May 19 and 31, and contracts will begin on June 2 and last until November. Schools have been advised to provide opportunities for disabled youth and women, as well as to prioritise youth in communities where the schools are located. 'In this way, the youth do not have to spend money on transportation between their homes and the schools where they will be employed.' The departments encouraged youth to apply for the opportunities 'so that they are included in these massive job opportunities, which can propel them into even greater opportunities and allow them to develop as professionals'. How to apply: Go to the SA Youth mobi website and register on the platform. The site is free and does not require any data. If you have already registered, simply log in using the same details. Once registered, opportunities at the school nearest to the address you have provided will appear, allowing you to submit your application. If no opportunities are visible, you can search for 'Education Assistant' or 'General Assistant.' Who can apply: TimesLIVE
