Mnqobi Mkhize is helping children rediscover the importance of reading, thanks to his role as an educator assistant.
Mkhize from Ntuzuma, 26km north of Durban, is a reading champion at a school in his community, where he is employed as an educator assistant.
Mkhize, 31, is one of 300,000 young people employed as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, which is one of the biggest public employment programmes in SA.
The initiative forms part of the government’s employment stimulus package, which has contributed to the creation of at least 580,000 employment opportunities.
Head of project management in the presidency, Rudi Dicks, says 22,000 schools across SA – in every community – now have educator assistants.
Mkhize, who holds a bachelor of technology in language practice from the Durban University of Technology, had been looking for a job since completing his qualification in 2017.
“I applied for the educator assistant position through the SAYouth.mobi platform in October 2021, as I constantly checked for opportunities on the platform. After I passed the interview, I was allocated to a school in my area as a reading champion,” Mkhize said.
He was appointed on a five-month contract and started at Sondelani Full Service School in Ntuzuma in November.
Mkhize's placement ends next month. His responsibility is to promote reading and a love of books.
“I have realised that, as a community, we are not doing enough to meet educators halfway when it comes to children’s learning.
"In a world that is engulfed by the excessive use of technology, they seldom read books or put effort into their studies. We have a responsibility to educate them about the importance of reading,” he said.
Mkhize is excited to be working with young people and to have a hand in helping shape their future.
He said he has been inspired to study towards a postgraduate qualification in education, which will make him a qualified teacher.
To apply for educator assistant positions, visit the DBE's website (www.dbe.gov.za) and the www.sayouth.mobi.
– This story first appeared in GCIS Vuk'uzenzele
Reading champ instils love of books in kids
Mkhize works as educator assistant
Mnqobi Mkhize is helping children rediscover the importance of reading, thanks to his role as an educator assistant.
Mkhize from Ntuzuma, 26km north of Durban, is a reading champion at a school in his community, where he is employed as an educator assistant.
Mkhize, 31, is one of 300,000 young people employed as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, which is one of the biggest public employment programmes in SA.
The initiative forms part of the government’s employment stimulus package, which has contributed to the creation of at least 580,000 employment opportunities.
Head of project management in the presidency, Rudi Dicks, says 22,000 schools across SA – in every community – now have educator assistants.
Mkhize, who holds a bachelor of technology in language practice from the Durban University of Technology, had been looking for a job since completing his qualification in 2017.
“I applied for the educator assistant position through the SAYouth.mobi platform in October 2021, as I constantly checked for opportunities on the platform. After I passed the interview, I was allocated to a school in my area as a reading champion,” Mkhize said.
He was appointed on a five-month contract and started at Sondelani Full Service School in Ntuzuma in November.
Mkhize's placement ends next month. His responsibility is to promote reading and a love of books.
“I have realised that, as a community, we are not doing enough to meet educators halfway when it comes to children’s learning.
"In a world that is engulfed by the excessive use of technology, they seldom read books or put effort into their studies. We have a responsibility to educate them about the importance of reading,” he said.
Mkhize is excited to be working with young people and to have a hand in helping shape their future.
He said he has been inspired to study towards a postgraduate qualification in education, which will make him a qualified teacher.
To apply for educator assistant positions, visit the DBE's website (www.dbe.gov.za) and the www.sayouth.mobi.
– This story first appeared in GCIS Vuk'uzenzele