The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of competent teachers within the country.
It offers financial assistance to qualified students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been vital with the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to promote teaching like a profession by funding university students to study for 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 recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must demonstrate satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to teach within a priority subject area as recognized because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to reveal a determination to educating and an idea of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on check here line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary technique (to the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end of your academic calendar year and closes early the next year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a selection process based upon the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying products
- 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 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.