The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of certified teachers during the country.
It provides economic support to suitable students who would like to go after a teaching qualification in locations which can be essential for the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to encourage educating like a career by funding students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected shortage of teachers, for instance:
- 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**: Should be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan 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 needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to clearly show satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to educate in a precedence subject area as determined with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to demonstrate a commitment to teaching and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Process For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted online through the official Funza Lushaka bursary system (on the Department of Basic Education's dedicated website for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window ordinarily opens towards the top with the academic 12 months and closes early the next year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. get more info **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a selection system based on the necessity for teachers Funza Lushaka in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying elements
- 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.