The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the scarcity of experienced teachers inside the country.
It offers monetary aid to qualified students who wish to go after a teaching qualification in areas that happen to be crucial for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to promote teaching as a occupation by funding university students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain lack 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged 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 ought to show satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to teach inside a priority subject area as recognized with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to demonstrate a commitment to teaching and Funza Lushaka Bursary an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end from the academic year and closes early the next year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes as a result of a variety method dependant on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the Funza lushaka requirements following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying elements
- 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 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.