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DA EC requests feedback on Basic Education Employment Initiative

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Dear MyPE

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape will be seeking clarity around the implementation of the Basic Education Employment Initiative programme by the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education.

This national programme seeks to provide temporary employment to 319 061 people across the country to help teachers with curriculum coverage and learner homework assistance as well as upkeep of the school premises and infrastructure maintenance.

Almost R5 billion has been made available for the programme that commenced in December 2020, but no information has been made forthcoming on the impact of the programme on the Eastern Cape – the province with the highest unemployment rate in the country.

At the end of 2020, during meetings of the Portfolio Committee on Education, I questioned the Eastern Cape Department of Education regarding the implementation of this programme in the province.

I also received confirmation from the late Superintendent General of Education, Mr Themba Kojana, that a working group would be set up to deal with the issue and give feedback on progress made.

I will now write to the acting Head of Department (HOD), Mr Ray Tywakadi, to seek clarity on how many people have been employed in the province through this initiative, and if they have received payment for December 2020.

Furthermore, I will also be requesting feedback on the non-payment of teacher assistants that were employed before the commencement of the Basic Education Employment Initiative programme. These assistants had their contracts extended till 28 February 2021.

This initiative is of great importance to our schools, teachers and learners, but also to the host of unemployed people in the province. Billions of rands will be spent and it is imperative that we ensure accountability by tracking the expenditure and the impact it has on education and unemployment.

Regards

Yusuf Cassim, MPL
DA EC Shadow MEC for Education

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