The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of certified teachers during the country.
It provides economic help to suitable students who desire to go after a teaching qualification in places which have been vital with the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to promote teaching being a career 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 certain lack of teachers, such as:
- 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) in a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to display satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to teach in a very precedence subject area as discovered via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to reveal a determination to educating and an understanding of its significance in society.
6. Funza Lushaka Bursary **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end with the academic yr and closes early the following calendar year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes through a variety method determined by the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and learning elements
- A small stipend for other living costs
***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.