The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the lack of skilled teachers from the country.
It provides monetary support to eligible students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in places that are important for the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to encourage educating for a occupation by funding university students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular scarcity of teachers, which include:
- 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 intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must clearly show satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must plan to educate in the priority subject area as identified by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to demonstrate a commitment to teaching and an idea of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net through the official Funza Lushaka bursary technique (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the tip on the academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by a range process according to the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning components
- A small stipend for other living expenditures
***Conditions for Funza Lushaka 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 more info 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.