The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers from the country.
It provides financial aid to suitable students who need to go after a teaching qualification in places which are crucial for the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to encourage educating for 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 selected 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**: Has to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should present satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to educate within a priority subject area as recognized with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to reveal a determination to educating and an comprehension of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net with the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary technique (within the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window commonly opens towards the end of your academic yr and closes early the subsequent year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes as a result of a variety process based on the need for teachers in specific subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers here the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Books and learning elements
- A small stipend for other living expenditures
***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 more info continues to meet the academic and other requirements. Recipients need to reapply every year, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.