The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the lack of capable teachers from the country.
It provides economic support to eligible students who desire to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which might be crucial for the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost educating being a career by funding university students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain lack 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**: Have to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend 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 will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to exhibit satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to teach in a precedence subject area as determined because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should show a commitment to teaching and an comprehension of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (on the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window generally opens towards the end on the academic calendar year and closes early the following year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by means of a variety process based on the need for teachers in specific subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and studying products
- A little 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 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 read more 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 Funza Lushaka application and other requirements. Recipients need to reapply every year, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.