The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the shortage of experienced teachers during the country.
It provides monetary support to suitable students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places that happen to be crucial to the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to promote teaching for a profession by funding college students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific lack of teachers, for example:
- 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 already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Academic 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 ought to exhibit satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must plan to teach in a precedence subject area as recognized from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to show a dedication to teaching and an comprehension of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end from the academic yr and closes early the next year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes through a range system based on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying components
- 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 Funza Lushaka 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.