The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of qualified teachers from the country.
It offers economic assistance to qualified students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which can be crucial for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to encourage educating like a career by funding college students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific 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**: Must intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must present satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to educate inside of a precedence subject area as recognized by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to educating and an knowledge of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary technique (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window ordinarily opens towards the end on the academic 12 months and closes early the next calendar year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by a selection course of action determined by the need for teachers in specific subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following Funza lushaka requirements expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning components
- 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 Funza Lushaka Bursary 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 check here 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.