The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers from the country.
It provides economic support to suitable students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been vital with the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to boost teaching 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 shortage of teachers, for example:
- 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to display satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to teach inside a priority subject area as identified through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants have to exhibit a motivation to educating and an comprehension of its worth here in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the tip in the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes through a range course of action dependant on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Textbooks and learning materials
- A little 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 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.