Gauteng govt blames national government for collapse of teaching assistant programme
In Gauteng, the teaching assistants were absorbed by the provincial education department under the Nasi iSpani platform.
FILE: Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi. Picture: @GautengProvince/X
JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng government has blamed national government for the collapse of the teaching assistant programme.
This has resulted in more than 30,000 young people being stranded.
Last week, disgruntled beneficiaries of the programme protested outside the Gauteng Education Department and accused the provincial government of using them for elections.
In Gauteng, the teaching assistants were absorbed by the provincial education department under the Nasi iSpani platform.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said this created an impression the programme was a provincial government initiative.
"This programme was renewed annually until 2023 when it was terminated across the country. We stepped in as the Gauteng government to protect our young people until the national government could provide further guidance," said Lesufi.
Lesufi said the provincial government's intervention was meant to be a stop-gap until national government clarified the future of the project.
"Our stepping-in was not for political expediency but a genuine attempt to protect these young people who played a crucial role in achieving our matric results as a province but more importantly they provide the necessary support and guidance to our learners," he said.