The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of experienced teachers inside the country.
It offers financial guidance to eligible students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which can be critical to the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to encourage educating as a occupation by funding university students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected lack of teachers, including:
- 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 currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to demonstrate satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to teach inside of a priority subject area as determined through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must reveal a commitment to educating and an knowledge of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web through the official Funza Lushaka Funza Lushaka application bursary procedure (within the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window generally opens towards the top from the academic yr and closes early the next calendar year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by a range process based upon the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Textbooks and studying products
- A little stipend for other living expenditures
***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.