The Department of Basic Education’s Presidential Youth Employment will open applications for the programme’s fourth phase since its introduction. Following a recent gathering by officials in the sector, the department has outlined the main objectives for the initiative.
The Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) teacher assistant programme intends to provide exit opportunities for participating candidates.
This implies that the department aims to ensure that, upon completing it, the programme’s candidates are well prepared to enter the job market and equipped with the required skills to do so.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) and Provincial Education Departments (PED) communicate
relevant information regarding their connections to other organisations, including information on Funza Lushaka bursaries, local and foreign scholarships, bursaries, and employment openings
Throughout the course of the third phase of the PYEI, the department provided additional training and learning materials hosted by eCubed on the TeacherConnectlearn portal, which is a zero-rated website.
This includes curriculum training for curriculum assistants, compulsory generic orientation, and the Reading Champions Training. This was to ensure that, upon completing the programme are exposed to employment opportunities while equipped with the necessary skills..
Exit certificates will also be given to candidates who participated in the PYEI according to department officials. A total of 50 Sport and Enrichment Assistants will also be hired by the Department of Sports and Recreation to assist with training learners.
The Presidential Youth Employment Initiative was also introduced to accomplish the objectives outlined below:
- Transform economy and society
- Building back better (the country’s economy, education system and programmes, etc.) means efficiency and effectiveness
- Stimulate economic recovery
- Expand public employment
- Creating decent jobs
- Reduce youth unemployment
- Provide youth with opportunities for meaningful experiential learning
- Poverty alleviation
- Support livelihoods
- Provide economic opportunities
- Create social value
- Formation of Partnerships and Collaboration
- Pathways into other forms of work
Additionally, through the provision of Curriculum Assistants, support is given to the sector priorities such as reading and literacy, supporting teachers in the classroom, and supporting reading programmes in schools and communities.
These priorities primarily include mathematics, science, and technology (MST), as well as high-enrollment subjects in the further education and training (FET) Phase.
