The fifth phase of the program will start from 1 June 2025 and end in November. This will be a 6 -month program.
As due to the SA’s young unemployment crisis, the Department of Basic Education has received more than 1.1 million applications for 44 000 education assistant jobs.
Applications for the fifth phase of basic education employment initiative were opened on Tuesday under the President’s Youth Employment Initiative.
In less than 24 hours, more than 1.1 million applications were recorded on the Sayouthmobi website used to sign up for the program.
It is worth noting that applicants can apply for many posts, with many doing so. Till 6 pm on Tuesday, 223 000 personal work seekers applied for the initiative. 44 000 jobs “opportunities” are loaded, on an average 25 applications are found in each available position.
Departmental spokesperson Eliza Mhalanga shared the status of applications while standing at that time.
Are posts available?
The purpose of basic education employment initiative is to encourage economic reforms and to reduce youth unemployment by providing young people with meaningful job opportunities. It also focuses on reducing poverty, supporting livelihood and creating pathway in other forms among others.
The posts include education assistant and general school assistants.
Education support courses can work as assistants, ICT/ecadres, reading champions, care and support assistants, laboratory assistants and workshop assistants
General School assistants can serve as a infrastructure maintenance (apprentice) or a sports enrichment assistant (SEA)
The fifth phase of the program will start from 1 June 2025 and end in November. This will be a 6 -month program.
Where are the jobs based?
The program is being funded by unemployment insurance fund (UIF) and National Treasury.
The application portal showed 202 000 vacancies, while this week a presentation by the department listed 204 676 job opportunities under the program.
Among the jobs to be created, most of the people funded by UIF were in KZN (35 336), followed by Gauteng (28 005). Northern Cape recorded the lowest number of jobs (3 744).
KZN will also get part of the lion funded by National Treasury (10 322), followed by Gauteng (8 181). Northern cape will get 1 094.
Thus the biggest obstacle in implementation so far is attracting training schemes, only with the preparation of western capes.
Who is eligible for the program?
Minimum requirements include:
- The youth who were in the previous stages, however, fulfill the criteria given below, qualify to apply
- Youth at the age of 18 – 34 years (18 or above when applying, or 34 31 March 2026 or before 35 years)
- Both EAS and GSA in a school for LSEN between 18 and 39 years of age, on or before 31 March 2026, at the age of 40,
- Youths living at a distance of 5 km around the school location and only 30 km from farm schools
- One opportunity per house
- Fill the requirements applied for per category and sub-region
- Not in youth, education, employment or training (distance or online student teachers). However, distance and distance educational institutions have a discount for youth studying teaching qualifications. They should be given priority, even if they are funded by the government (NSFAS or Funza Rushaka), to allow students to achieve relevant teaching experiences and reduce the need for induction on completing their degrees.
- Youths are not receiving government grants for themselves (eg grades like R350 – Candidates will be requested to cancel it in the month of confirmed appointment)
- Youth are not receiving any other form stipend, wages or salary
- Young not learning one
- Youth without a criminal record. Candidates will be expected to present their police clearance records when they come for an interview.
- Youth living with disability should provide a medical certificate confirming the nature of disability.
- Youth who has a valid South African Identity Book/Card
how to apply
The applications are still open. You can register and apply by registering some questions Sayout.mobi,
Data is not required to reach the site and once you have applied, you can be placed in a school close to where you live.