The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the shortage of experienced teachers from 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 intended to promote educating for a occupation by funding students to study for the 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 plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a recognized South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to present satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to educate inside of a priority subject area as determined by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment Funza Lushaka to Teaching**: Applicants should display a motivation to educating and an comprehension of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line throughout the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (within the Department check here of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window usually opens towards the tip on the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent calendar year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by means of a variety method depending on the need for teachers in certain subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and studying products
- 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.