The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the lack of competent teachers within the country.
It offers financial guidance to eligible students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in places which are critical for your schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost educating like a profession by funding students to study for any 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**: Have to 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) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to show satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to educate inside of a precedence subject area as discovered by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should show a dedication to teaching and an knowledge of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (over the Department of Basic Education's Funza Lushaka focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the end of your academic yr and closes early the subsequent year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes as a result of a variety method depending on the need for teachers in certain subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Books and studying resources
- A small 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.