Teachers' lived experiences on the EA programme.

Approval was obtained from the WCED to conduct researchAcademic research in South Africa’s basic education sector is developing. However, this sector often serves as a research terrain and context for researchers in related sectors such as higher education. Meaning, more external researchers conduct academic research in schools compared to school teachers. Moreover, teachers’ voices and experiences are often overlooked in school-based academic research. The researcher of the current study is a teacher in the sector, thus attempting to address this gap. Against this, this study explored teachers’ lived experiences of the Educator Assistants (EA) programme in a township high school in the WCED, Metro East Education District. Academic research investigating teachers’ experiences of the EA programme launched under the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, implemented by the DBE, is scarce.To guide its research process, the researcher adopted the Professional Learning Community (PLC) framework for theoretical guidance. Meaning, teachers’ lived experiences of the EA programme were explored through the lens of the PLC framework.This study adopted qualitative research as it aimed to investigate teachers’ lived experiences and opinions on the EA programme. Specifically, the study found expression in phenomenology.Research findings indicated that the EA programme positively impacted the school’s PLC. Furthermore, teachers confirmed that they found value in the EA programme and expressed a desire for its reinstatement. Moreover, the PLC framework was found applicable in a township school, except for the accountability sub-dimension.Theoretical frameworks in education literature are largely sound; however, their robustness and applicability in different contexts are questionable due to limited empirical interrogation. This study makes a unique contribution to education literature, as it interrogates a widely referenced PLC framework in a new context. Moreover, findings on the impact of the EA programme may be useful to the DBE.