The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of capable teachers from the country.
It provides monetary assistance to qualified students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in locations that happen to be crucial for that education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to encourage educating as a profession by funding university students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular shortage 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to demonstrate satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to intend to educate in the priority subject area as identified by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to exhibit a dedication to educating and an comprehension of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line in the here official Funza Lushaka bursary system (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window generally opens towards the end on the academic calendar year and closes early the following calendar year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes via a variety system based upon the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and studying resources
- 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 website the required service), they will be required to repay the bursary amount click here 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.