The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of capable teachers during the country.
It provides economic support to eligible students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been essential for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to encourage educating being a profession by funding college students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific lack of teachers, like:
- 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**: Need 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) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should exhibit satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to teach within a precedence subject area as determined by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should exhibit a motivation to educating and an idea of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet in the official Funza Lushaka bursary technique (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window normally opens towards the tip with the academic year and closes early the following year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a selection method dependant on the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Funza lushaka status check Books and learning supplies
- A small 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 graduation or leaving before completing the required service), they will be required to repay the bursary website 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.