The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the shortage of skilled teachers within the country.
It provides monetary guidance to eligible students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which can be crucial with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to encourage educating as a career by funding students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should present satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to teach inside a priority subject area as recognized via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must reveal a commitment to teaching and an idea of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary program (to the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the tip in the academic yr and closes early the following year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or Funza bursary disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by way of a selection check here approach depending on the need for teachers in specific subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning resources
- A small 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 is subject to satisfactory academic performance.