A total of 200,000 Education Assistants (EAs), appointed through Phase V of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), have been officially deployed to support approximately 20,000 schools across all nine provinces. President Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala, and Gauteng MEC for Education, Mr Matome Chiloane, launched the BEEI at Sefako Makgatho Primary School in Pretoria, Gauteng Province on 10 June 2025.
As part of the launch, President Ramaphosa conducted a walkabout to various sites, which showcased the effective operation of BEEI in support of schools, learners and educators. These sites included lesson demonstrations in Grade R, 3 and 7 and an ICT class; the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) kitchen and food garden, which is used to supplement the effective implementation of the programme.
The BEEI is a cutting-edge Government programme intended to support educators and improve learning outcomes in General Education and Training (GET), particularly in reading and literacy. The programme is currently implemented by the DBE, funded by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) and National Treasury with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) being the pay master.
Ms Lala Maje, the BEEI National Coordinator, said that the programme was implemented under the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) aimed at addressing youth unemployment by transitioning young people from learning (education & training) to earning employment at a broader scale or entrepreneurship: “Through BEEI, young people are expected to serve within the Basic Education Sector as Curriculum Assistants; Reading Champions; eCadres Assistants; Care and Support Assistants; Laboratory Assistants and Workshop Assistants; Handypersons; and Sport and Enrichment Assistants. All these roles are meant to strengthen our education system, protect the teaching and learning time, helping ensure no learner is left behind whilst providing participants with a vital launching pad for their future careers”.
Minister Gwarube indicated that the launch of the BEEI coincided with the Youth Month activities dedicated towards the empowerment of South African youth. “The implementation of the BEEI will impact positively on the Basic Education Sector as schools will be able to concentrate more on promoting a reading culture and language across the curriculum. The programme will assist the sector in improving the functionality of schools, especially in school administration and infrastructure maintenance. I would like to express my gratitude towards the President for showing support towards the transformation of the South African education landscape,” said Minister Gwarube.
President Ramaphosa highlighted that the BEEI should afford young people an opportunity to develop critical skills in education to unlock doors of permanent employment opportunities at a later stage. “The programme should be regarded as a fresh start for young people to shape their future for the better. We anticipate seeing many of the beneficiaries establishing small businesses to create jobs for others. The programme presents young people with an opportunity to consider pursuing studies at the institutions of higher learning and training. I would like to commend the team that has worked so hard to ensure the success of the BEEI. The DBE has done a sterling job in administering the project from its inception to date and I am looking forward to seeing schools improving their performance. I am also expecting most beneficiaries to become successful entrepreneurs or agents of change in the communities where they live”.