The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the lack of certified teachers from the country.
It offers financial assistance to qualified students who want to go after a teaching qualification in places that happen to be important with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage educating for a profession 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 specific shortage of teachers, for example:
- 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 previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should exhibit satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to teach within a precedence subject area as Funza Lushaka application identified with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must show a determination to educating and an idea of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Process For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (about the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The here application window generally opens towards the end from the academic 12 months and closes early the following year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a selection system depending on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and learning components
- 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.