The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of qualified teachers from the country.
It provides monetary assistance to qualified students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in places that happen to be crucial for that education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to boost educating being a career by funding students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain lack 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**: Should intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to exhibit satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to intend to teach in the priority subject area as recognized by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should show a dedication to teaching and an knowledge of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted online through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (over the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end of your academic calendar year and closes early the next year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by a variety procedure according to the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Funza Lushaka application Guides and learning materials
- A little stipend for other living expenses
***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.