The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of competent teachers within the country.
It offers monetary assistance to qualified students who desire to go after a teaching qualification in locations which have been crucial for the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to promote teaching to be a profession by funding university students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain 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**: 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) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should exhibit satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to educate in a priority subject area as recognized because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to display a commitment to educating and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line from the official Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (over the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the end of your academic year and closes early the following year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by means of a selection course of action based on the need for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying components
- A little stipend for other living expenses
***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 Funza lushaka status check the work-back obligation (e.g., not teaching after graduation Funza Lushaka Bursary 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.