The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of competent teachers from the country.
It offers economic support to qualified students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which can be crucial for that education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching for a occupation 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, 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**: Must 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) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic 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 must display satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to educate in a priority subject area as determined through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants Funza Lushaka have to show a commitment to educating and an knowledge of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in 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 tip from the academic year and closes early the following calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes via a selection process according to the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning components
- A little 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.