The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the lack of skilled teachers during the country.
It offers economic help to eligible students who want to go after a teaching qualification in locations which have been significant for that schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to promote educating like a profession by funding university 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 shortage of teachers, which include:
- 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**: Need 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 identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to show satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to teach in a very precedence subject area as discovered from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should show a dedication to teaching and an knowledge of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary program (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window usually opens towards the top on the academic yr and closes early the subsequent year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of more info university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by means of a range method according to the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Books and learning products
- 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 read more 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.