The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of competent teachers in the country.
It provides economic assistance to qualified students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which have been crucial to the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to promote teaching like a occupation by funding university students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected lack 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**: Must 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 recognized South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must show satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to educate inside a precedence subject area as discovered through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must exhibit a determination to teaching and an comprehension of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants 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 the net through the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (about the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window ordinarily opens towards the top of the academic year and closes early the following calendar year (usually 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 appliance goes by way of a variety method based upon the need for teachers in specific subjects and .
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying resources
- 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 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 Funza 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.