The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of experienced teachers within the country.
It offers financial guidance to eligible students who would like to go after a teaching qualification in areas which can be significant for your education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to encourage educating as being a occupation 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**: Has to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at 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 right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should present satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to teach within a priority subject area as recognized with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to display a determination to educating and an idea of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (around the Department of Basic Education's focused Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window Funza Lushaka application commonly opens towards the tip in the academic year and closes early the subsequent calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- 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 through a range approach depending on the need for teachers in specific subjects and .
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Books 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.