The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the scarcity of competent teachers inside the country.
It provides economic support to eligible students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in locations that happen to be vital for the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to encourage educating as a profession by funding college students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific scarcity 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to demonstrate satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to teach in a priority subject area as recognized because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to demonstrate a determination to educating and an knowledge of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are Funza Lushaka Bursary submitted on the internet in the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (around the Department of Basic Education's focused Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window generally opens towards the top of your academic 12 months and closes early the following calendar year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a variety process according to the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books 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.