The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of experienced teachers while in the country.
It offers financial aid to eligible students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which have been vital with the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to encourage educating as a profession 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 selected lack 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**: Must intend to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to demonstrate satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to educate in the priority subject area as discovered because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must reveal a motivation to educating and an comprehension of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted online through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary method (over the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window usually opens towards the tip with the academic calendar year and closes early the following year (normally November to website January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes through a selection course of action depending on the need for teachers in specific subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and learning materials
- 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.