The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the lack of skilled teachers from the country.
It offers monetary aid to suitable students who prefer to go after a teaching qualification in places that are crucial for that education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to encourage educating 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 specific scarcity of teachers, for example:
- 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 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 must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to clearly show satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must plan to teach in the precedence subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should show a commitment to teaching and an understanding of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Funza Lushaka Applications are submitted on the web with the official Funza Lushaka bursary system (on the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end with the academic yr and closes early the following calendar year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes as a result of a variety method depending on the need for teachers in particular subjects and click here .
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Textbooks and studying materials
- 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 continues to meet the academic and other requirements. Recipients need to reapply Funza every year, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.