The department of basic education (DBE) recently announced the success of the Presidential Youth Employment Stimulus, which was first implemented in December 2020.
According to the department, the programme aimed to use direct public investment in order to create employment opportunities and provide support for workers negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
As a result, over 25,950 school governing body-funded posts in the public and government subsidised independent schools were able to be saved.
In addition, employment opportunities were created for a total of 319,091 education and general education assistants between the ages of 18 and 35.
These assistants were provided with training in five key areas, namely: curriculum, information and communications technology (ICT), child and youth care workers (CYCW) and Reading Champions.
“The ICT training has a component where the recipient undergoes training on how to support learners with special needs. Another component is the training on the SA School and Administration Management System (SA-SAMS),” the department said.
“CYCW will assist vulnerable learners by providing psychosocial support. Reading Champions assisted with the promotion of a reading culture, whereas the general school assistants provided with infrastructure training assisted with conducting infrastructure conditional assessment as well as carrying out minor maintenance work.”
All new appointees underwent orientation programmes on standard operating procedures for Covid-19 management as well as training on the National School Safety Framework.
