The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of certified teachers in the country.
It offers financial aid to eligible students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in locations that happen to be essential for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to promote educating 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 selected shortage 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**: Needs 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) in a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must exhibit satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to intend to educate in a very precedence subject area as discovered via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must demonstrate a motivation to teaching and an comprehension of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated website for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the tip on the academic yr and closes early the following year here (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by a variety procedure depending on the need for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and learning 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.