The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the lack of experienced teachers while in the country.
It provides economic guidance to qualified students who want to go after a teaching qualification in locations that happen to be essential for your education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to promote educating like a career by funding college students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected shortage 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**: Has to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at 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 into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to present satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to teach in the precedence subject area as recognized with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants should display a commitment to educating and an comprehension of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted online throughout the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (within the Department of Basic Education's focused Funza lushaka online application Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window ordinarily opens towards the top from the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by a selection approach depending on the necessity for Funza Lushaka Bursary teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying resources
- A little stipend for other living expenses
***Conditions for Working Back the Bursary:
Upon graduation, more info 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.