The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of certified teachers during the country.
It provides monetary aid to suitable students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which are vital to the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to encourage teaching for a occupation by funding university 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, 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**: Has to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a recognized South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to present satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to intend to educate inside a precedence subject area as recognized via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants will have to exhibit a determination to teaching and an comprehension of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line with the official Funza Lushaka bursary process (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window typically opens towards the end in the academic 12 months and closes early the next calendar year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying Funza lushaka online application goes through a selection process depending on the need for teachers in specific subjects and .
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning supplies
- A small stipend for other living expenditures
***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 website 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.