The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the lack of qualified teachers from the country.
It provides monetary assistance to qualified students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been vital with the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to encourage educating 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend 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 should have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to show satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to educate in a priority subject area as identified from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants need to exhibit a motivation to teaching and an comprehension of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web from the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (to the Department of Basic Education's dedicated website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the end from the academic year and closes early the following year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes through a range course of action dependant on the need for teachers in particular subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and studying supplies
- 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**: Funza lushaka requirements 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.