The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of qualified teachers from the country.
It provides monetary assistance to qualified students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in places that happen to be crucial for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to boost teaching being a career 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 selected 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must display satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to teach in a very precedence subject area as discovered via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must show a dedication to teaching and an knowledge of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line with the official Funza Lushaka bursary system (over the Department of Basic Education's focused Web here page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the tip on the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent year (typically 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 applying goes via a selection system based on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying supplies
- 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.