DBE hires almost 300 00 assistants

 By: Surprise Golela

The Department of Basic Education has created employment opportunities for nearly 290 000 young people through the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI).

 

This is according to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga as she briefed the media on the state of readiness for the 2021 academic year on Sunday.

Her address comes as millions of learners are expected to return to school on Monday morning.

The additional school staff, she explains, have been employed on contract as education assistants and general school assistants. 

“These young people have been employed in our schools, as the sector’s response to the President Ramaphosa’s Fiscal Stimulus Package, announced in April 2020.  We call this initiative, the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI).”

She says BEEI seeks to address Covid-19-related academic disruptions, as well as providing assistance in dealing with lingering systemic challenges.

“Another key component if the BEEI, is to provide support to workers negatively and directly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“A portion of the R7 billion allocated for the BEEI, is targeted at saving SGB-funded posts in public schools and government subsidised independent schools.”

Adds the minister: “We are working hard to ensure that the delayed payments of some of these young people are addressed immediately.”