The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the scarcity of certified teachers in the country.
It provides economic assistance to eligible students who desire to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which are essential for that schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to encourage teaching being a career by funding university students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular shortage of teachers, like:
- 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**: Have to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should show satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to educate inside a precedence subject area as identified because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants ought to demonstrate a motivation to educating and an knowledge of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net through the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Web site for Funza Lushaka).
Funza - The applying window typically opens towards the end of your academic yr and closes early the subsequent calendar year (ordinarily November to 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 appliance goes by way of a variety course of action dependant on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying 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.