The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed at addressing the lack of skilled teachers inside the country.
It offers financial guidance to eligible students who prefer to go after a teaching qualification in areas which are crucial for your education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to promote teaching to be a profession by funding college students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected 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**: Must intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in 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 will have to show satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to educate inside of a precedence subject area as discovered by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must show a commitment to teaching and an understanding of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Funza bursary Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (to the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the top with the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by a selection process determined by the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying elements
- A small 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.