The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of certified teachers during the country.
It provides economic help to suitable students who desire to go after a teaching qualification in areas which are important for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to promote educating as a profession by funding university students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific scarcity of teachers, which include:
- 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) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to present satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to educate inside of a priority subject area as discovered because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants will have to show a dedication to teaching and an knowledge of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (around the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window normally Funza opens towards the top from the academic year and closes early the subsequent calendar year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes as a result of a variety approach dependant on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and learning 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.