The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the lack of capable teachers from the country.
It provides monetary aid to qualified students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which might be critical to the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to encourage educating as 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 scarcity of teachers, which include:
- 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**: Have to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a recognized South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to present satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to educate inside a priority subject area as determined because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must exhibit a determination to educating and an knowledge of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary method (about the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the top of your academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
Funza Lushaka application - Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a range approach based on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying elements
- A small 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.