The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of experienced teachers within the country.
It offers financial support to suitable students who desire to go after a teaching qualification in areas which are important for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to promote teaching to be a profession 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 scarcity of teachers, for instance:
- 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 presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to display satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to educate inside of a precedence subject area as discovered by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should show a dedication to educating and an comprehension of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process click here For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the tip with the academic 12 months and closes early the next year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a range course of action depending on the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and studying elements
- A small 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 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.