The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the scarcity of qualified teachers within the country.
It provides financial support to qualified students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in places which might be vital with the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to promote educating as a profession by funding university students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific shortage of teachers, such as:
- 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**: Has to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to clearly show satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to educate in the precedence subject area as recognized via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must demonstrate a motivation to teaching and an comprehension of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted online through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary method (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the tip from the academic calendar year and closes early the next year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes through a selection procedure determined by the need for teachers in certain subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and learning 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 click here school for the same number of years that they received the Funza lushaka requirements 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., check here 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.