Question NW72 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education

Reply:

(i) will be youth with no criminal record  

The Department, working together with Provincial Education Departments (PEDs), acknowledges the need for the youth employed in schools, as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Package, to be members of society, without criminal records.  As such, the Implementation Framework for the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) makes it mandatory for all youth employed in schools to submit a copy of their most recent Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS).  The Department has taken into account that the processing of PCCs takes time to be finalised.  As such, PEDs have been advised to inform School Principals to request youth appointed in their schools to submit confirmation that they have made an application for a PCC.  All participants are required to have submitted their PCCs by January 2021.

In addition to this measure, PEDs are required to work with their counterparts, the provincial Departments of Social Development (DSD), to run the IDs of incumbents against the Sexual Offenders’ Register.  This is meant to protect our learners, as well as to ensure that schools remain as protective environments for our children to the extent necessary.

A further measure put in place is for the youth to have submitted testimonials, affirming their standing in their communities, as part of the documentation required to finalise appointments.

 

(ii) will be effectively inducted into the codes of conduct of the schools? 

All schools are required to use the period following immediately after finalising appointments to rollout an induction and orientation programme.  To facilitate this, the Department has finalised an orientation manual for Education Assistants and General School Assistants.  This manual has been mediated through the training of District Directors, Circuit Managers and School Principals.

Once the youth have taken up their positions, Principals are required to ensure that induction and orientation are provided to all.  The DBE orientation manual should be augmented with programmes designed by schools, supported by their Circuits.

 

(b) What selection criteria will be utilised to determine who will be chosen

        The following standard criteria have been discussed and agreed with PEDs: 

• that the recruits are 18 – 35 years old;  
• that they reside in the community where the school is located;
• a special dispensation is provided for Schools for Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN).  PEDs have been advised to inform such schools that when they undertake recruitment processes, they should target their former learners who are suited to work in the schools;
• a minimum of NQF Level 4 qualification for Education Assistants and General School Assistants; and
• Since Education Assistants will be required to work with teachers and learners in classrooms, having an NQF level 7 qualification will be an added advantage.

 

(c) What form of skills transfer can the recipients expect to gain from participating in this programme             

        The Department has developed an inventory of training programmes, with the following five focus areas:

• Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCW) to provide Psychosocial Support to learners;
• Curriculum to claw-back on the losses imposed by the outbreak of COVID-19;
• Reading Champions to respond to one of the key Sector priorities;
• Infrastructure to support critical school infrastructure maintenance, and

to conduct an infrastructure condition assessments that will inform future maintenance work; and

• e-Cadre programme to support schools and teachers with the following

ICT related activities - Basic ICT equipment troubleshooting, use of ICT in lesson planning, ICT school management Tools (SASAMS),

Integration of ICT in Teaching and Learning, Audit of schools for ICT readiness, and Loading Open Educational Resources on teacher and

learner devices to be used in the classrooms.

 The training programme will be provided in collaboration with various partners.