The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative targeted at addressing the lack of qualified teachers in the country.
It offers financial assistance to suitable students who desire to pursue a teaching qualification in locations that happen to be crucial for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching as being a career by funding college students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected scarcity 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a recognized South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to display satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must plan to educate in the precedence subject area as identified via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to check here Educating**: Applicants have to show a motivation to educating and an comprehension of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line from the official Funza Lushaka bursary technique (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window ordinarily opens towards the tip from the academic 12 months and closes early the next calendar year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes here by way of a range process based upon the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and studying materials
- 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**: 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 here 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.