The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the shortage of qualified teachers from the country.
It provides financial support to suitable students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which have been vital for that education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to boost educating 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 particular shortage of teachers, for instance:
- 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 intend to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to present satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to teach inside a precedence subject area as discovered through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must reveal a determination to teaching and an understanding of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not 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 with the official Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (over the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window commonly opens towards the tip of the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by a selection method according to the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and learning supplies
- A small 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 here 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.