The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of competent teachers during the country.
It offers monetary help to eligible students who want to go after a teaching qualification in places which might be critical to the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to promote teaching to be a profession by funding college students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific shortage 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should show satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to teach inside a precedence subject area as determined by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to educating and an knowledge of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted online in the official Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (within the Department of Funza bursary Basic Education's dedicated Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window generally opens towards the top on the academic year and closes early the next calendar year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by a selection method according to the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and places.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and learning materials
- A little stipend for other living expenditures
***Conditions Funza Lushaka application 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.