The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of qualified teachers during the country.
It provides economic help to qualified students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been vital for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage educating as being a occupation by funding students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain lack of teachers, including:
- 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**: Should intend to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to exhibit satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to teach in the precedence subject area as identified through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants need to display a motivation to educating and an comprehension of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated website for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window ordinarily opens towards the top on the academic yr and closes early the following year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a variety approach based on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and learning materials
- A little stipend for other living expenses
***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 here 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.