The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the scarcity of competent teachers in the country.
It provides economic guidance to eligible students who would like to go after a teaching qualification in locations which are significant for your education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost educating as being 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 specific lack 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**: Should be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to display satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to educate in a priority subject area as discovered from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants ought to demonstrate a commitment to educating and an Funza understanding of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet in the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (about the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the top with the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes through a selection system according to the need for teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying resources
- A small stipend for other living expenses
***Conditions for Working Back the Bursary:
Upon graduation, bursary recipients are required to:
1. **Teach in a Public School**: here 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.