The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the shortage of capable teachers within the country.
It provides financial help to eligible students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in areas that are crucial for the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to boost teaching like a profession by funding students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected scarcity of teachers, like:
- Mathematics
- Physical Science
- Technology
- Languages (especially African languages)
- Early Childhood Development
- Foundation Phase Teaching
*** Who Qualifies For The Bursary?
To be eligible for the Funza Lushaka bursary, applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. **Citizenship**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to demonstrate satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Should plan to educate inside a precedence subject area as discovered with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must exhibit a determination to teaching and an knowledge of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not read more be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (on the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the end on the academic year and closes early the following year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by way of a variety method based upon the need for teachers in specific subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning products
- A little stipend for other living expenses
***Conditions for Working Back the Bursary:
Upon graduation, bursary recipients are required to:
1. **Teach in a Public School**: Recipients must work as teachers in a public school for the same number of years that they received the bursary. This is known as the "work-back" period.
2. **Service Placement**: The Department of Basic Education will place recipients in schools where their skills are needed, often in rural or underserved areas.
3. **Failure to Fulfill the Obligation**: If the recipient fails to meet the work-back obligation (e.g., not teaching after graduation or leaving before completing the required service), they will be required to repay the bursary amount in full, with interest.
***Renewal of the Bursary:
The bursary is renewable annually, provided the student continues to meet the academic and other requirements. Recipients need to reapply every year, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.