The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the scarcity of certified teachers during the country.
It provides economic assistance to qualified students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in places that happen to be crucial for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to boost teaching being a career by funding students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain lack of teachers, like:
- 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**: Have to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged 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 have to display satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to teach in the precedence subject area as determined by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should show a dedication to teaching and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net from the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated website for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the tip on the academic 12 months and closes early the next year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by way of a range method based upon the need for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Books and studying components
- 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 more info 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.