The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the scarcity of certified teachers while in the country.
It offers financial assistance to eligible students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in places which might be essential to the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching being 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, 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**: Has to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to display satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to teach within a priority subject area as identified through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants ought to reveal a commitment to educating and an understanding of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (on the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the top with the academic yr and closes early the following calendar year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by way of a selection course of action determined by the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and places.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and learning resources
- A little 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 Funza lushaka requirements performance.