The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of competent teachers inside the country.
It offers monetary help to eligible students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which are significant for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage teaching as a career 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 particular scarcity of teachers, like:
- 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**: Must plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to present satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should plan to teach within a precedence subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to demonstrate a determination website to teaching and an idea of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted online in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary program (within the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window usually opens towards the top of the academic calendar year and closes early the next calendar year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified Funza bursary copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by way of a range procedure based upon the need for teachers in particular subjects and website locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and studying supplies
- 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 is subject to satisfactory academic performance.