The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of qualified teachers inside the country.
It provides monetary guidance to eligible students who desire to go after a teaching qualification in locations which have been critical for the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to encourage teaching to be a occupation 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to exhibit satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to teach within a priority subject area as discovered by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to exhibit a commitment to teaching and an get more info idea of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted online in the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window ordinarily opens towards the top in the academic yr and closes early the subsequent year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes as a result of a selection procedure dependant on the need for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and learning resources
- A little stipend for other living expenses
***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.