The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of skilled teachers in the country.
It provides economic assistance to eligible students who desire to pursue a teaching qualification in places which can be crucial for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to boost educating to be a career by funding college students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected shortage of teachers, such as:
- 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 plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at 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 into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should clearly show satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to teach in a very priority subject area as identified through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants have to display a determination to teaching and an idea of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (on the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window typically opens towards the end in the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent calendar year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by means of a selection process based on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying 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 Funza lushaka online application 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.