The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the scarcity of experienced teachers while in the country.
It provides financial guidance to eligible students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in locations that happen to be vital for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to encourage educating being a career by funding college students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or already 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 into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to clearly show satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to teach inside a priority subject area as discovered by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to reveal a determination to educating and an comprehension of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net throughout the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary technique (within the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window commonly opens towards the end of your academic yr and closes early the subsequent year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by a variety procedure dependant on click here the need for teachers in specific subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and learning resources
- A little 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 Funza Lushaka is subject to satisfactory academic performance.