The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the lack of capable teachers within the country.
It offers monetary help to suitable students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which have been crucial with the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to encourage educating to be a profession 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 lack 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 intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must demonstrate satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to teach in the precedence subject area as discovered from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants have to reveal a dedication to teaching and an comprehension of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards Funza bursary the end from 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 given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by means of a selection procedure depending on the need for teachers in certain subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and learning elements
- A little stipend for other living expenses
***Conditions for Working Back the website 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, here 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.