The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of capable teachers during the country.
It offers financial assistance to qualified students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in places that are critical for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage educating as being a career by funding college students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular shortage of teachers, for example:
- 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 plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should clearly show satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to educate in a priority subject area as determined by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to reveal a commitment to teaching and an comprehension of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the top of your academic year and closes early the following year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by way of a variety approach based upon the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and .
***Exactly what Funza does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and studying elements
- A small stipend for other website living costs
***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 read more 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.