The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the shortage of skilled teachers during the country.
It offers monetary guidance to qualified students who desire to pursue a teaching qualification in places which can be vital for your education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to encourage teaching to be a occupation 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, including:
- 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**: Should be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to display satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to teach within a precedence subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to teaching and an understanding of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary system (over the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the end of your academic 12 months and closes early the following calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by way of a range approach depending on the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent here expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Books and learning elements
- 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 performance.