The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers inside the country.
It provides financial aid to eligible students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in locations that happen to be vital with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to boost educating like a occupation by funding college 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, such as:
- 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 intend to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should demonstrate satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should plan to teach in a precedence subject area as identified by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants should reveal a motivation to teaching and an idea of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be Funza older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary method (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window typically opens towards the top of your academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes as a result of a selection approach based on the need for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and learning materials
- A small stipend for other living expenses
***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.