Thabiso Goba19 March 2025 | 5:10

R200m national govt grant sees return of teacher assistant programme in Gauteng

In 2024, the Gauteng Department of Education had to let go of more than 1,000 assistant teachers after funding was pulled for the programme.  

R200m national govt grant sees return of teacher assistant programme in Gauteng

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi spoke at the 24th National Teaching Awards at Birchwood Hotel in Kempton Park on 5 October 2024. Picture: @EducationGP1/X

JOHANNESBURG - The teacher assistant programme will return to Gauteng after the province secured a grant of R200 million from the national government.  

In 2024, the Gauteng Department of Education had to let go of more than 1,000 assistant teachers after funding was pulled for the programme.  

Opposition parties accused the African National Congress (ANC)-led government of using the programme as an election ploy.  

However, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said this programme was always dependent on funding from the national government.  

“We are doing this so those young people that don’t have opportunities can get those opportunities, so that a majority of our young people can be active in the economy of our province. We are also doing this to create skills development for our young people. So those that are accusing us of electioneering are just those who are lazy to think.”