The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the scarcity of qualified teachers within the country.
It offers economic aid to suitable students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in areas that are vital to the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to promote teaching to be a profession by funding university students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain lack of teachers, including:
- 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 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 must have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to show satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to intend to teach in the priority subject area as identified from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants have to reveal a commitment to educating and an knowledge of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the tip of the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent year (ordinarily 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 by a selection system based upon the need for teachers in particular subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and studying products
- A little stipend for other living expenditures
***Conditions for Working Back the Bursary:
Upon graduation, bursary recipients are required to:
1. **Teach in a website 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.