The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers while in the country.
It provides economic guidance to qualified students who wish to go after a teaching qualification in areas which can be vital with the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to boost teaching to be a occupation 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 particular 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 presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to clearly show satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should plan to teach in a priority subject area as recognized via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants need to demonstrate a dedication to educating and an idea of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** more info On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the top of your academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent calendar year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes through a selection process depending on the need for teachers in specific subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Books 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 Funza Lushaka application 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 Funza Lushaka continues to meet the academic and other requirements. Recipients need to reapply every year, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.