As part of the government’s ongoing efforts to address youth unemployment while supporting learning recovery in schools, the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) Phase V successfully placed a total of 197 000 assistants in public schools across all provinces,. The programme focuses on two broad areas of assistance: Education Assistants and General School Assistants.

With training forming a big part of the BEEI, a series of training sessions are currently underway in provinces to ensure effective implementation of the programme. The Project Manager, Ms Lala Maje, is pleased with the pace at which training sessions are proceeding. She remarked: “These training make me happy, considering the fact that young people will be capacitated to support teaching and learning in a much more effective and efficient way. Since the commencement of Phase V, all officials were orientated on the programme, 98 % of the assistants underwent compulsory General Orientation Training,  which was mainly an online self-paced modularized course. The course included professional conduct, safety in schools and ethics. All provinces have started with training of Assistants. As such, Reading Champions are being trained across the country, where the content is designed to equip Education Assistants and Curriculum Assistants with the foundational skills, strategies, and confidence to support literacy development in the Foundation Phase. Training content includes aspects related to the role of Reading Champions in supporting learners; the importance of reading in mother tongue; identifying and teaching sounds (phonemes), letter-sound correspondence, activities for building phonics skills; retelling stories using pictures and sequencing; reading aloud and shared reading; setting up and using reading corners; organising reading clubs or story sessions; encouraging peer-to-peer reading; working alongside teachers for targeted support, especially in using readers, flashcards,  phonics charts,  digital reading tools where available, and punctuality;  and strengthening collaboration as well as respecting diversity in the classroom. 

“Parallel to this, Curriculum Assistants are being trained on Foundational Knowledge in ensuring that they understand the South African Curriculum and are orientated on the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) and Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS). The training sessions will also enable the Assistants to support schools in improving learning outcomes and assessment standards for different subjects and grades. They will also provide support in the delivery of effective learning and teaching  in the classroom, including lesson preparation. The Curriculum Assistants will also of critical help in implementing strategies aimed at supporting learners with diverse needs, including those with disabilities and learning difficulties. As part of the training sessions, the Assistants were exposed to ways of developing and implementing lesson plans that align with the curriculum. And because they work with various stakeholders within the schooling community, the training also helps them to develop effective interpersonal and conflict resolution skills. By the end of the training they have already developed strategies on how to work effectively with teachers, school administrators, and other stakeholders,” highlighted Ms Maje.