• Over 200,000 young people assigned to 20,000 schools in fifth phase of job initiative

• Program aims to boost education and tackle youth unemployment

• Youth contracts offer $225 monthly stipend and support key learning areas

South Africa has launched phase 5 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative, deploying more than 200,000 young people to around 20,000 schools across the country. The program is part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Plan aimed at improving education and addressing high youth unemployment.

President Cyril Ramaphosa (pictured) highlighted the new phase in his weekly letter on June 2. The initiative is managed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in collaboration with provincial departments and the Ministry of Labour and Employment. It is funded by the Professional Activation Program, the Unemployment Insurance Fund, and the Treasury.

The program targets youth aged 18 to 34, assigning them roles in literacy, math, science, ICT, sports activities, student supervision, and school maintenance. Each receives a six-month contract with a monthly allowance of 4,000 rands (about $225), plus a refund for connectivity costs.

Youth unemployment remains a major concern in South Africa, with a 62.4% jobless rate for 15-to-24-year-olds in the first quarter of 2025, according to StatSA. Since its launch in 2020, the initiative has created over 1.1 million temporary jobs, though its long-term impact depends on whether these roles lead to lasting employment and align with broader structural reforms.

Similar youth employment programs exist in other African countries, such as Ghana’s Nation Builders Corps and Benin’s Special Program for Integration into Employment, but few have achieved sustained results. In South Africa, continued funding, close monitoring, and clear pathways to formal employment will be key to the initiative’s success.