The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the lack of qualified teachers during the country.
It provides economic support to suitable students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which can be critical to the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to encourage educating as a occupation 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 presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational 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 will have to show satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to educate within a priority subject area as identified via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants need to show a commitment to educating and an understanding of its more info great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet in the official Funza Lushaka bursary process (around the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window commonly opens towards the tip of your academic year and closes early the next calendar year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by means of a variety system determined by the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and learning Funza lushaka online application resources
- 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.