The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers while in the country.
It offers financial support to suitable students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which are essential for that schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to encourage teaching as a profession by funding college students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain scarcity 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**: Needs 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) at a recognized South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should clearly show satisfactory academic performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to teach inside of a priority subject area as discovered because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants will have Funza Lushaka to exhibit a commitment to teaching and an idea of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line throughout the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (about the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window generally opens towards the top of the academic yr and closes early the next year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a selection process depending on the need for teachers in specific subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and learning materials
- A little stipend for other living costs
***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.