The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of competent teachers within the country.
It offers financial guidance to eligible students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which might be crucial for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to boost teaching as a occupation 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 lack of teachers, like:
- 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**: Should intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to show satisfactory academic performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should plan to teach in the precedence subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to demonstrate a commitment to teaching and an understanding of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted online through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the tip on the academic yr and closes early the following calendar year (ordinarily November to Funza January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by way of a selection process depending on the need for teachers in certain subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and studying elements
- 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 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.