The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the scarcity of experienced teachers inside the country.
It offers financial assistance to suitable students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in areas that are important for that education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to encourage teaching like a profession 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 specific scarcity 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to present satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to educate in a priority subject area as recognized because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants should exhibit a motivation to educating and an idea of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted online through the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the tip in the academic yr and here closes early the next year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by a range approach dependant on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying resources
- A small stipend for other living expenses
***Conditions for Working Back the Bursary:
Upon Funza bursary 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 click here 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.