The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the shortage of capable teachers in the country.
It provides economic aid to suitable students who wish to go after a teaching qualification in locations which are crucial for the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to boost teaching to be a profession by funding college students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected 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 currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should demonstrate satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to educate in a precedence subject area as discovered via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to display a motivation to teaching and an understanding of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted here online with the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (on the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window normally opens towards the end of the academic calendar year and closes early the next year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes via a range course of action based upon the need for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Textbooks and learning resources
- A little 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 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.