The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of competent teachers within the country.
It offers financial aid to qualified students who want to go after a teaching qualification in locations which have been vital with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost educating like a career by funding students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected scarcity 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or currently 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 score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should present satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to teach in the precedence subject area as recognized via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to demonstrate a determination to educating and an comprehension of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line throughout the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary method (on the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the end of your academic calendar year and closes early the following year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by a variety system based upon the need for teachers in certain subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Books and learning materials
- A small 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 read more 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.