The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of qualified teachers during the country.
It provides economic support to eligible students who want to go after a teaching qualification in areas that happen to be important for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage teaching to be 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 particular 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**: Should plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a recognized 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 will have to show satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to educate within a priority subject area as discovered via the Funza Lushaka Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants should demonstrate a determination to teaching and an knowledge of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web with the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary method (on the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window ordinarily opens towards the end on the academic calendar year and closes early the following year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are more info demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by a selection method dependant on the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and .
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and studying products
- 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.