The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the scarcity of experienced teachers while in the country.
It provides economic assistance to eligible students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in places which are significant for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage teaching for a profession by funding university students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular scarcity 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to present satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to intend to teach in a very precedence subject area as recognized with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants should exhibit a determination to educating and an understanding of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted online with website the official Funza Lushaka bursary process (over the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the tip on the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent calendar year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies Funza bursary of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes as a result of a range system according to the need for teachers in specific subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and learning materials
- A little stipend for other living expenditures
***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 Funza Lushaka 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.