The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the lack of qualified teachers during the country.
It provides monetary help to suitable students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in locations that happen to be vital for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage educating being a career 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 specific lack 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**: Should be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should present satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to teach inside a precedence subject area as discovered by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants need to display a determination to educating and an understanding of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line with the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window commonly opens towards the tip with the academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent calendar year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes through a variety system dependant on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying resources
- 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 Funza Lushaka Bursary 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 click here 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.