The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the lack of experienced teachers in the country.
It provides monetary guidance to suitable students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which have been crucial for your schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to encourage teaching like a occupation by funding students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular 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**: Should be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to demonstrate satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to intend to educate inside a precedence subject area as recognized by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must display a commitment to educating and an idea of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary method (to the Department of Basic Education's here focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window generally opens towards the top Funza Lushaka of your academic year and closes early the following year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by a range system based upon the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying products
- 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.