50 000 fewer jobs and less money: Here’s how much you will now earn if you join the presidential youth employment programme

Desperate young people looking for work through the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative’s Basic Education Employment Initiative will have to contend with fewer positions and lower pay this year, the department has confirmed.

The fifth phase of the programme will start on 1 June 2025 and end in November. It will be a 6-month programme.

The project aims to stimulate economic recovery and reduce youth unemployment by providing young people with meaningful job opportunities. It also focuses on alleviating poverty, supporting livelihoods, and creating pathways into other forms of work, among others.

Stipend to be allocated

And while these are great goals, fewer people will be able to benefit from the programme this year.

The Department of Basic Education told Parliament on Tuesday that the job created in phase five are 50 000 lesser than what was produced in phase four.

They are being funded by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the National Treasury.

Of the jobs set to be created, the majority of those funded by the UIF were in KZN (35 336), followed by Gauteng (28 005). Northern Cape recorded the lowest number (3 744) of jobs.

KZN will also get the lion’s share of positions funded by National Treasury (10 322), again followed by Gauteng (8 181). The Northern Cape will get 1 094.

The biggest barrier to implementation thus far has been drawing up training plans, with only the Western Cape being ready.

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Positions include education assistants and general school assistants.

Education assistants can work as Curriculum Assistants, ICT/eCadres, Reading Champions, Care and Support Assistants, Laboratory Assistants, and Workshop Assistants

General school assistants can work as an Infrastructure Maintenance (Handyman) or a Sport Enrichment Assistant (SEA)

How much will you earn?

While the monthly stipend went up in the first three phases, it remained the same in 2023. It has now decreased from R4 081.44 to R4 000. Those in the programme will have to pay a 1% UIF contribution but will also get R30 a month for data.

The lower stipend may have something to do with overall funding for the programme being reduced from R6.4 billion to R5.6 billion.

Who qualifies for the programme?

The minimum requirements include:

• Youth who were in previous phases, however, meeting the below criteria, qualify to apply
• Youth at age 18 – 34 years (18 or above when applying, or 34 turning 35 on or before 31 March 2026)
• Both EAs and GSAs at a school for LSEN between the ages 18 and 39, turning 40 on or before 31 March 2026,
• Youth residing 5km around the location of the school and 30 km from farm schools only
• One opportunity per household
• Meet requirements per category and sub-category applied for
• Youth, not in education, employment, or training (excluding distance or online student teachers). However, there is an exemption for youth studying teaching qualifications at distance and remote learning institutions. These should be prioritised, even if they are funded by the government (NSFAS or Funza Lushaka), to allow students to gain relevant teaching experience and minimise the need for induction when they complete their degree.
• Youth not receiving government grants for self (e.g. Grants such as R350 – candidates will be requested to cancel this in the month of confirmed appointment)
• Youth not receiving any other form of stipend, wage, or salary
• Youth not in a learnership
• Youth without a criminal record. Candidates will be expected to present their police clearance record when they come for an interview.
• Youth living with disability must provide a medical certificate confirming the nature of disability.
• Youth who have a valid South African Identity Book/Card

Below is the specific requirements for each position