The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers during the country.
It provides monetary assistance to suitable students who need to go after a teaching qualification in areas which can be crucial with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to boost teaching for 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 instance:
- 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**: Have to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must demonstrate satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to educate within a priority subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to display a determination to educating and an understanding of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (around the Department of Basic Education's focused Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the tip with the academic calendar year and closes early the next year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by means of a variety method based on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and .
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Textbooks and learning supplies
- 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 the work-back obligation (e.g., not teaching after Funza Lushaka application 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.