The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers from the country.
It provides economic support to eligible students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places that are important to the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to boost teaching being a career by funding students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational 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 should present satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to teach inside a priority subject area as discovered via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to show a commitment to teaching and an knowledge of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (about the Department of Basic Education's focused Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window typically opens towards the tip of your academic year and closes early the next calendar year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by way of a range system determined by the need for teachers in particular subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning resources
- A little 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 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.