The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative targeted at addressing the shortage of certified teachers during the country.
It provides economic help to suitable students who prefer to go after a teaching qualification in places which have been vital with the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to boost teaching for a profession by funding college 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 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**: Needs 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 acknowledged South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must demonstrate satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to educate inside a priority subject area as discovered via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to teaching and an understanding of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- click here Applications are submitted on the net with the official Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (on the Department of Basic Education's focused Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the top of your academic 12 months and closes early the next year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes through a variety process according to the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides 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 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.