The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of competent teachers while in the country.
It offers monetary aid to suitable students who wish to go after a teaching qualification in locations that are significant for that schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to promote teaching as being a career 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 certain shortage of teachers, which include:
- 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 intend to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at 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 must demonstrate satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to educate within a priority subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must show a dedication to teaching and an knowledge of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should website not be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted online from the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (around the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the top on the academic yr and closes early the subsequent year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes via a variety process based on the need for teachers in particular subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and learning components
- A small 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 here 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.