The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed at addressing the lack of qualified teachers in the country.
It offers financial guidance to eligible students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been essential for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to encourage teaching for a profession by funding college 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 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a recognized 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 ought to display satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to educate inside a priority subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should exhibit a motivation to educating and an knowledge of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (about the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the end of the academic year and closes early the following calendar year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes as a result of a range approach dependant on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning supplies
- 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 of the Bursary:
The bursary is renewable annually, provided the Funza student continues to meet the academic and other requirements. Recipients need to reapply every year, Funza and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.