The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the shortage of experienced teachers during the country.
It offers monetary guidance to qualified students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in areas that happen to be important for that schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching as a career by funding college students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain shortage 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 intend to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to clearly show satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to teach within a priority subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must show a dedication to teaching and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than Funza Lushaka Bursary 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net from the official Funza Lushaka bursary system (on the Department of Basic Education's focused Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window ordinarily opens towards the tip of the academic calendar year and closes early the following calendar year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by means of a range method according to the need for teachers in particular subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides 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.