The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed at addressing the lack of skilled teachers within the country.
It provides economic assistance to eligible students who would like to go after a teaching qualification in areas which are important for your schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to promote teaching as a career 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 selected scarcity 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**: Should be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to clearly show satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to intend to educate inside of a precedence subject area as recognized through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants will have to display a dedication to educating and an comprehension of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line from the official Funza Lushaka bursary technique (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window typically opens towards the end from the academic yr Funza bursary and closes early the next year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by a range system according to the need for teachers in specific subjects and .
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and studying products
- A little stipend for other living expenditures
***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 Funza Lushaka Bursary 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 Funza Lushaka every year, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.