The DBE convened a successful close-out meeting for Phase V of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) from 13-14 March 2026 in KwaZulu-Natal, bringing together a wide range of key stakeholders from across the education and public employment ecosystem. The meeting was attended by representatives from all nine Provincial Education Departments (PEDs), district officials, teacher unions including National Teachers' Union, (NATU) National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA), and South African Onderwysers-Unie (SAOU), and School Governing Body associations such as Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools and National School Governing Body Association. Officials from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Kwantu, non-governmental organisations, and other partners were also in attendance.

In his opening remarks, DBE’s Deputy Director-General for Business Intelligence, Mr Paddy Padayachee, expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for their commitment and resilience in delivering Phase V under challenging conditions. He commended the programme for achieving “excellent results within a difficult terrain and context,” noting that its success was a testament to collaborative effort across sectors. He signalled a forward-looking approach, indicating that Phase VI would incorporate greater technical expertise and system improvements to address operational challenges experienced during Phase V.

Project Manager, Ms Lala Maje, presented a comprehensive reflection on the Phase V implementation, highlighting that BEEI successfully facilitated the placement of 199,419 education assistants nationally, despite a recorded attrition of approximately 13,000 participants. A notable outcome was the strong participation of young women, who constituted most beneficiaries, underscoring the programme’s contribution to gender inclusion in employment opportunities. Ms Maje also candidly reflected on key challenges, chief among those being the centralized payment system, which proved problematic in Phase V. In contrast, decentralized payment approaches used in earlier phases funded through National Treasury were more effective, ensuring that no participant went unpaid. Ms Maje emphasized the importance of preparing thoroughly for the upcoming audit process, urging all stakeholders to exercise vigilance and maintain accurate documentation.

She concluded by acknowledging the complexity of Phase V, which operated under two funding streams with differing compliance requirements, and thanked all partners for their support. Partner organisation Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, represented by Ms Nomahlubi Mosethedi, presented insights on recruitment and system integrity. The organisation leverages the SAYouth.mobi platform, a zero-rated digital solution that captures and matches youth data with job opportunities based on skills and role requirements.