The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers while in the country.
It provides economic help to suitable students who want to go after a teaching qualification in places that are essential for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to promote educating as 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 particular shortage 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan 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 needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to demonstrate satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to intend to teach within a priority subject area as discovered via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants need to show a commitment 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 For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web with the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary method (over the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window commonly opens towards the top on the academic calendar year and closes early the following calendar year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by way of a range process based upon the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and Funza .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and learning supplies
- A small 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 Funza Lushaka 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.