The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of capable teachers during the country.
It provides economic guidance to eligible students who wish to go after a teaching qualification in areas which might be crucial with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage teaching as being a occupation by funding students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular scarcity 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 previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a recognized South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must exhibit satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to teach within a precedence subject area as discovered by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to teaching and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years when they apply. Funza Lushaka
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (over the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the top on the academic yr and closes early the following year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes as a result of a selection here process based on the need for teachers in certain subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and Funza Lushaka foods
- Books and learning products
- 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.