The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of experienced teachers within the country.
It offers financial support to suitable students who desire to go after a teaching qualification in areas which are important for the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage educating as a occupation by funding university students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific scarcity of teachers, which include:
- 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**: Should plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic 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 must display satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to educate inside of a priority subject area as identified from 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 once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted online in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary technique (over the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the end of the academic calendar year and closes early the next year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration Funza lushaka online application are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes as a result of a selection method based on the need for teachers in particular subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides 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.