The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the lack of skilled teachers in the country.
It provides monetary guidance to suitable students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which are vital for that education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to promote educating as being a profession by funding students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific shortage 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**: Has to 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) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to present satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to intend to educate inside of a precedence subject area as recognized by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to show a commitment to educating and an knowledge of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet through the Formal Funza Lushaka more info bursary system (over the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window normally opens towards the end on the academic year and closes early the next calendar year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by way of a range method depending on the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and learning elements
- 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 more info bursary is renewable annually, provided the student continues to meet the academic and other requirements. Recipients need to reapply every year, and more info the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.