Youth encouraged to apply for 287 000 teacher, general assistant positions now open

• The Department of Basic Education has opened phase 2 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative programme.
• The programme will see 287 000 teachers and general assistance employed for five months.
• Phase 1 of the programme stopped in April and the second phase would run until March 2022, the DBE has said.

The Department of Basic Education on Sunday announced that it has opened Phase 2 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative programme. 

Phase 2 of the programme would see 287 000 teachers and general assistants employed, the department said.

Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said candidates would be placed in schools for five months, from 1 November 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Applications would run from 27 September and close on 3 October.

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According to the department, applicants would need to have passed matric to qualify.

NQF Level 4, 6 and 7 would be an added advantage. 

The posts that will be filled, according to the department: 

A matric certificate would not, however, be required from applicants to be placed in infrastructure support, sport and enrichment agent positions as assistants.

Trade certificates would be an added advantage, it said.

"As in phase 1, there will be a strong emphasis on training participants, with a view to adding to their skills set, as well as setting them up for improved employment prospects. Young people recruited for phase 2 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative can expect to receive training in the following areas," Mhlanga said.

The department said young people recruited for the phase 2 of the programme could expect to receive training in information technology, sports enrichment and infrastructure maintenance. 

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Phase 1 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative ran from 1 December 2020 until 31 April 2021. 

Approximately 300 000 young people participated in phase 1 of the BEEI. .

The department said phase 2 would focus on addressing the youth unemployment and those lacking relevant experience.

"Through phase 1 of the initiative, the data collected after placement of the youth, indicated that a noticeable number of unemployed youth placed on PYEI-BEEI had qualifications in various fields.

"Phase 2 will also provide experiential learning, whilst ensuring that those who studied education or are interested in education as a field of study, will be directed to paths that will lead them back to the sector," Mhlanga said.