The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed at addressing the scarcity of capable teachers within the country.
It provides economic aid to qualified students who desire to pursue a teaching qualification in places that happen to be important for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching as a occupation by funding students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular scarcity of teachers, like:
- 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**: Must plan 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 rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must demonstrate satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to teach in a very precedence subject area as discovered through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to teaching and an understanding of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary technique (within the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the tip from the academic calendar year and closes early the next calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by means of a range procedure based on the need for teachers in particular subjects and .
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition Funza bursary charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and studying supplies
- 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 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.