Previous DBE PYEI Teacher Assistants Contracts Will Not Be Extended

Phase Three of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) in the Basic Education Sector will commence from 1 April 2022, this initiative previously created around 280 000 employment opportunities for general school assistants and education assistant vacancies.

As Phase Two of this initiative draws to a close in the month of March, the contracts of Teaching Assistants are set to come to an end.

There was confusion about the extension of these contracts however the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, said the following in a social media post:

It’s not an extension. The current contracts will end. New contracts will be entered into starting 1 April 2022.

Mhlanga says that Phase Three of the programme has been confirmed and will go ahead. He also explained that current contracts expire at the end of March but new contracts will be entered into starting 1 April 2022.

The Education Department will be checking whether candidates still meet the requirements to remain in the programme and can be allowed to continue to the next phase.

“If you are in the programme your school will explain the process. Guidelines have been made available to school principals.” Mhlanga explained.

In order to qualify for Teaching Assistant jobs in Phase Three, assistants must meet the following requirements: 

• Are Between the age of 18 and 35 years old. (18 or above when applying, or 34 turning 35 before end of March 2023);
• Are Residing in South Africa with a valid RSA ID card, book or valid passport and work permit;
• are Residing in a location within a 5-8 kilometre radius of the the school
• Are the only one with this opportunity at home (One Opportunity per household);
• Meet the requirements per category and sub-category applied for;
• Attended work all days and performed the work assigned to them;
• Are Not in Education, Not in Employment and Not in Training (NEET), you can not be involved in any form of studies for the entire period;
• Are Not studying part-time or fill-time
• Are Not participating in a Learnership
• Are Not receiving government grants including NSFAS, Funza Lushaka, including R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
• Are Not receding any other form of Stipend, wage or salary;
• Don’t have a criminal record;
• Was not unfairly advantaged above others due to staff members (SMT or SGB) knowing them;
• Attended all the compulsory training and received certificates(Generic Orientation, SOP for Covid-19, NSSF) and
• Was not involved in misconduct during Phase 1 or 2

Those from Phase Two who meet these requirements will remain in the programme and will have to sign a new contract on 1 April 2022.

They will be able to make use of the skills they acquired through the training that was provided to them in Phase Two, to support teaching and learning in schools.

Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI)