The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of qualified teachers within the country.
It provides economic aid to suitable students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in areas that are critical for the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage teaching like a profession by funding students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain shortage of teachers, which include:
- 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 plan to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to show satisfactory academic performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to teach in the precedence subject area as identified with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to reveal a commitment to teaching and an knowledge of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: more info Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (within the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the tip with the academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent calendar year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by means of a selection course of action based upon the need for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Textbooks and studying components
- A little 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 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 more info 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.