PYEI Project

Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI)

The Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI), implemented at the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) across all nine provinces has succeeded in the reduction of youth unemployment in the country.

This programme is part of public investment in a mass employment strategy to stimulate and encourage economic activity, whilst reducing youth unemployment as well as providing relevant work experience.

The initiative was planned for a four months contract and was officially implemented from 1 December 2020 to 30 March 2021. It was extended for one month, which stretched to 30 April 2021. Phase II ran from 1 November 2021 to March 2022. Phase III started on 1 April 2022 and will end on 30 September.

The target for Phase III is to provide job opportunities to 6 497 unemployed youth. Young people employed as Education Assistants (EA) and General School Assistants (GSA) are getting an opportunity to develop critical skills that have the potential to improve their employability. These young people are not teachers, they are administrators who provide support to and work under the supervision of a teacher. The assistants will receive a monthly stipend of R4 081. 44 per month.

An orientation programme has been developed for the EA and GSA. Orientation will be two-fold; one specific to officials in provinces to orientate them on the implementation framework, and the other will be a general orientation for assistants. The orientation and training are to ensure that the Assistants understand their roles and responsibilities and that they are familiar with the code of conduct applicable to the schools where they are placed. They will further be exposed to appropriate training courses to equip them with skills that will help them fulfil their duties

AIMS

• Transform the economy and society

• Building back better (the country’s economy, education system and programmes, etc.) means efficiency and effectiveness

• Stimulate the economic recovery

• Expand public employment

• Creating decent jobs

• Reduce youth unemployment

• Provide youth with opportunities for meaningful experiential learning

• Poverty alleviation

• Support livelihoods

• Provide economic opportunities

• Create social value

• Formation of Partnerships and Collaboration

• Pathways into other forms of work

OBJECTIVES

The Northern Cape Department of Education has continued to ensure proper implementation and compliance to the objectives of the PYEI project which are:

Provide capacity to schools to manage the impact of COVID-19 on schooling, whilst supporting the Basic Education Sector as it repositions and re-imagines the future beyond COVID-19; building back better to bring efficiency and effectiveness to the system through the capacity provided in the form of Assistants.

Through the provision of Education Assistants provide support to sector priorities such as Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST), Reading and Literary, supporting teacher in classrooms and also support reading initiatives in schools and communities.

To ensure that schools are assisted in coping with the need to create a safe and conducive learning environment, and adherence to COVID-19 protocols by maintaining infrastructure, cleaning school surroundings, screening and sanitizing learners, educators and visitors to the schools – through the provision of General School Assistants.

To provide psychosocial support to learners through provision of Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCW) as well as ensuring that extracurricular activities are supported in schools through Sport and Enrichment Assistants (SEAs).

To provide e-Cadres to schools so as to address the huge digital divide realised during COVID-19 and during the implementation of Phase I, where schools either lack capacity or infrastructure or connectivity. The e-Cadres will be empowered to assist teachers with integration of ICT usage in classrooms, as well as maximise on the use of management systems that government have put in place in schools.

To strengthen the governance, accountability and management of SGBs and SMTs in schools, where the project of this nature will be implemented and managed at school level.

Since phase one and to date, the success of the project in our schools and department as a whole is hinged on the unwavering support and commitment to ensuring that we contribute towards responding to youth unemployment, socio-economic challenges in our school communities and skills transfer through partnerships with relevant stakeholders. The PYEI project has since changed the lives of some of our youth for the better.

Annexure A: Implementation framework for the PYEI in the Basic Education Sector

Annexure B: Recruitment guideline version on October 2022

Annexure C: Conditions of Placement

Annexure D: Roles and responsibilities

Annexure E: Interview guide for schools

Annexure F: Leave policy for youth placed

Annexure G: Guidelines on support for thinly populated communities

Annexure H: A guide to schools on vetting against the National Register for Sexual offences

Annexure I: Project roles and responsibilities of officials

Annexure J: Guidelines for placement of assistants

Annexure K: Chick list version 4

Annexure L: Frequently asked questions