The Department of Basic Education (DBE), in collaboration with Binding Constraint Lab (BCL), held a two-day planning session from 22 to 23 October 2026, to prepare for the implementation of the Basic Education Employment Initiative Foundation Phase Literacy and Numeracy (BEEI FLN) pilot, which will run from January to March 2027. Mr Paddy Padayachee, the Deputy Director-General for Business Intelligence and Project Sponsor said that the pilot will be used to strengthen full-scale BEEI implementation once funding is made available.

The two-day planning session brought together key stakeholders from across the education sector, including DBE officials, representatives from all nine Provincial Education Departments (PEDs), and officials from the 15 districts selected to implement the pilot. The Presidency, National Treasury, School Governing Bodies (SGBs), teacher unions, including SADTU, NAPTOSA, NATU, SAOU and SAPA, as well as representatives from non-governmental organisations and the business sector also participated. The diverse representation highlighted the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility in preparing for the pilot, with a common goal of strengthening early literacy and numeracy whilst improving learning outcomes for learners in the Foundation Phase.

Ms Lala Maje, Project Manager, indicated that the BEEI FLN pilot is funded through the R319 million allocated by National Treasury, via the Division of Revenue Act (DORA), for the implementation, management, and oversight of the project. The pilot is expected to create approximately 22,000 work opportunities for young people, who will be placed in schools as Assistants to support Foundation Phase teachers in strengthening learners’ early literacy and numeracy skills. Through this initiative, the Department aims to contribute to youth employment whilst supporting teachers in building a strong foundation for learners’ future educational success.

Over the two days, delegates worked through the key building blocks of the pilot and reached agreement on several important matters which include:

• Eligibility criteria: The criteria for selecting Assistants were finalised to ensure that the correct young people are recruited and placed where they are needed most.
• Training: Plans for the training of Assistants were agreed upon to ensure they are well-equipped to support teachers and learners when they enter classrooms.
• Materials: The design and content of the training and support materials to be used in schools were finalised.
• Roles and responsibilities: The roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders were clarified to ensure a shared understanding of their contributions to the pilot. These include the DBE, PEDs, districts, schools, SGBs, teacher unions, implementation partners, and the Assistants themselves, all of whom will play a significant role in supporting the successful implementation of the initiative.

The BEEI FLN pilot is scheduled to be officially launched on 15 November 2026, when applications will open for prospective Assistants. The period leading up to the start of the 2027 school year will focus on recruitment, selection, placement, and training to ensure that Assistants are adequately prepared for their roles. They are expected to take up their positions in schools in January 2027, ready to support Foundation Phase teachers from the start of the school year.

The DBE extends its sincere appreciation to all partners for their valuable contributions, collaboration, and continued support in preparing for the BEEI FLN pilot. Through this collective effort, we are creating meaningful work opportunities for young people whilst strengthening the foundations of literacy and numeracy for learners in our schools.