The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the lack of capable teachers within the country.
It offers financial aid to eligible students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places that happen to be vital with the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to promote educating being 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 specific scarcity of teachers, such as:
- 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**: Should intend to enroll or currently 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 must present satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must plan to teach in a very priority subject area as identified because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must reveal a commitment to educating and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the tip in the academic year and closes early the following calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The Funza Lushaka application appliance goes by means of a range approach determined by the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying 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 "work-back" period.
2. **Service Placement**: The Department of Basic Education 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.