The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of competent teachers within the country.
It offers financial guidance to eligible students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been essential for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to encourage educating being 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 specific scarcity of teachers, such as:
- 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 intend to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to exhibit satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to educate in a very precedence subject area as determined because of the Department of more info Basic Education.
5. check here **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to reveal a determination to educating and an comprehension of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary program (around the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the tip with the academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes as a result of a variety process based on the need for teachers in certain subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and learning elements
- A small stipend for other 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 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.