The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers from the country.
It provides economic assistance to qualified students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which are important for the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to boost educating like a occupation 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 certain scarcity 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 presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to display satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must plan to teach within a priority subject area as determined because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must reveal a motivation to teaching and an idea of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net with the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (to the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window usually opens towards the tip of the academic yr and closes early the next calendar year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by means of a variety system determined by the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Books and studying supplies
- 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 website 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.