The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed at addressing the lack of capable teachers from the country.
It provides economic aid to suitable students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which might be important for the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to encourage teaching as a profession by funding 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 scarcity 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**: Should be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to exhibit satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to intend to teach inside a precedence subject area as determined through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants will have to display a dedication to educating and an idea of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted online from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary program (around the Department of Basic Education's focused Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the end on the academic calendar year and closes early the following year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a variety approach depending on the need for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and studying products
- A little stipend for other living costs
***Conditions for Working website 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.