The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of competent teachers in the country.
It provides economic guidance to eligible students who wish to go after a teaching qualification in locations that are critical with the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to promote educating for a profession 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 specific shortage of teachers, including:
- 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**: Have to 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 identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to display satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to educate inside of a precedence subject area as identified because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must demonstrate a motivation to educating and an understanding of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line with the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (on the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window Funza Lushaka application generally opens towards the end of your academic calendar year and closes early the next calendar year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes via a range method based on the need for teachers in specific subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Textbooks and learning materials
- A little 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 the same number of years that they received the bursary. This is known as the here "work-back" period.
2. **Service Placement**: The Department of Basic Education will place recipients in schools where their skills are needed, often in rural get more info 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.