The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the lack of skilled teachers within the country.
It provides financial help to qualified students who prefer to go after a teaching qualification in locations which might be significant with the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to boost educating for a occupation by funding college students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should display satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to educate in the priority subject area as discovered through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants need to display a commitment to teaching and an understanding of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net with the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (about the Department of Basic Education's focused Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window normally opens towards the top of the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by way of a range procedure according to the need for teachers in specific subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and learning components
- A little stipend for other living expenditures
***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 read more 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.