The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of certified teachers during the country.
It provides economic help to suitable students who would like to go after a teaching qualification in areas which might be significant for your schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching as a occupation by funding students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain lack 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**: Have 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) 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 educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to teach inside a priority subject area as identified via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants have to reveal a commitment to educating and an idea of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted online through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (over the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the end from the academic year and closes early the subsequent calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by means of a selection system according to the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and studying Funza bursary components
- A small stipend for other living costs
***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.