The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the lack of qualified teachers from the country.
It provides economic help to eligible students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places that are essential for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to encourage educating like a career by funding students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular scarcity of teachers, for instance:
- 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**: Should 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) 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 ought to show satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to teach inside a priority subject area as determined because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must demonstrate a dedication to teaching and an knowledge of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted online through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (on the Department of Basic Education's focused Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window ordinarily opens towards the top with the academic 12 months and closes early the next year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided here to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes here by means of a selection system based upon the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying resources
- 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.