Will education assistant contract be extended again 

 The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention Phase 3 will be ending in August 2022. The Basic Education Department has also completed the planning for Phase 4 of the intervention.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has announced that Phase 3 of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) which began on 1 April 2022 is set to come to an end on 31 August 2022. Current assistants are reminded that once their contract has ended, it will not be extended for any period beyond that date.

As their journey as assistants comes to an end, the department encourages them to make the most of the online training opportunities which are currently available to them. The department is hopeful that the current cohort will take advantage of their opportunities to help them acquire the necessary skills for future employment.

Schools have been discouraged from allowing assistants to volunteer as that may create an expectation that the youth would be employed in the next phase of the programme. Phase 4 will be geared towards attracting a new cohort of youth so that more individuals will receive the skills needed for employment opportunities. 

The department has announced that planning for Phase 4 of the programme is at an advanced stage and is set to commence within the first quarter of 2023. Principals and School Governing Bodies (SGB) are encouraged to notify the youth in their communities about the programme. 

Interested individuals may apply if they meet the following requirements:

  • Unemployed youth between 18 and 34 years old.
  • Have not taken part in Phase 1, 2 and/or 3 of PYEI.
  • Live within 5km of a school or 30km from a farm school.
  • Currently unemployed, not training or on a learnership.
  • Not studying full or part-time online distance or on a short course.
  • Education assistants require a matric certificate. (Graduates including Funza Lushaka graduates are encouraged to apply as well)
  • Not a recipient of a social grant.
  • Have no criminal record.

Eligible youth who registered on the sayouth.mobi may apply for the PYEI job opportunities online. Applications for Phase 4 will open from 22 August 2022 until 12 September 2022. 

Applicants are reminded that applications take place online only and no walk-in applications will be accepted at schools.