The DBE, in collaboration with the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), is implementing employment opportunities for youth through the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) Phase V, targeting 2 June 2025, as the commencement date in schools. Applications can be submitted through SAYouth.mobi from 22 April to 9 May 2025.
The Implementation of Phase V is supported by the Industrial Development Corporation as the implementing agent to disburse stipends to beneficiaries. The BEEI programme targets youth aged 18 to 34, turning 35 by the end of March 2026. This follows the successful implementation of Phases I – IV, where more than 1.1 million job opportunities were created for youth. Phase V's target is to create more than 200,000 job opportunities for youth across all nine provinces. The focus for BEEI Phase V is to provide support to educators to contribute towards improved learning outcomes. To support the 7th Administration Priorities, the initiative will allocate more opportunities towards Reading Champions to support the improvement of Reading and Literacy in the Foundation and Intermediate Phases.
Inclusiveness is a key pillar of the initiative and schools have been encouraged to provide disabled youth and females with equal opportunities. Schools have also been guided to prioritise youth living in communities where the schools are located. In this way, the youth do not have to spend money on transportation between their homes and the schools where they will be employed.
BEEI Phase V continues to aim at providing youth with soft and hard skills required in the world of work. The soft skills that the youth will gain will commence from day one where schools will explain their school ethos; request the youth to sign work contracts and job descriptions; manage their time; improve communication skills; enhance reading and writing skills; and hone a sense of professionalism, self-confidence and self-esteem.
The second category that will assist teachers in classrooms is Curriculum Assistants. Curriculum Assistants are not teachers and are not required to teach, as teaching and assessment remain the responsibility of the teacher. E-Cadres will be required to assist with ICT integration in teaching and learning. Other categories will be Care and Support Assistants, who will provide basic psychosocial support to learners; laboratory assistants to support lessons in laboratories; workshop assistants to support lessons in workshops; sports and enrichment assistants; and handymen and women. Assistants will be required to undergo orientation on inclusive education to understand that learners living with disabilities should be treated on an equal basis with other young people in the school and communities in which they live. The second phase of the training will focus on training youth placed in special schools across the country, whilst the third phase of the training will focus on providing skills to assistants living with disabilities employed as part of the project.
The Department is continuously looking for organisations to partner with, to provide training to the youth, as well as exit pathways. There are funds set aside for Exit Opportunities to be administered and managed by the IDC. Pathways to other opportunities will ensure that the youth remain meaningfully engaged and make a positive contribution to society, whilst propelling them into even greater opportunities to develop as professionals.