Class is in session: 200 000 assistant teachers join schools through jobs programme

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit is joined by Andrew Donaldson, Research Associate at the School of Economics at the University of Cape Town.

Listen below:

Monday marked the first day at school for around 200 000 new assistant teachers in South Africa.

They formed part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES), introduced as part of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has played a vital role in job creation.

Since its launch in October 2020, the initiative has generated over 1.5 million work and livelihood support opportunities for unemployed South Africans.

Donaldson says it's a great initiative and one he'd like to see as an ongoing programme:

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"It creates work opportunities for large numbers of people...I think of this as a school enhancement programme."

- Andrew Donaldson, Research Associate at the School of Economics - University of Cape Town

But Donaldson says such programmes would be more effective if they weren't implemented on such an ad hoc basis.

"We could do a lot better if we make them permanent programmes, recognise that this is both good for job creation and good for schooling."

- Andrew Donaldson, Research Associate at the School of Economics - University of Cape Town

The scheme, which isn't limited to the education sector, contributes to cleaner cities, fire prevention, improving water services, social services, and more says Donaldson.

"So many things that can be done at a comparitively low cost because these programmes do come in at the minimum wage or thereabouts."

- Andrew Donaldson, Research Associate at the School of Economics - University of Cape Town

"You're getting large numbers, relative to the cost, into work."

- Andrew Donaldson, Research Associate at the School of Economics - University of Cape Town

It makes sense to be doing more of these kind of programmes, says Donaldson.

Scroll up to listen to the full interview from Good Morning Cape Town

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