The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of competent teachers inside the country.
It offers financial help to eligible students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in places which might be essential for that schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to boost educating as being a profession by funding students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific 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**: Have to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must display satisfactory academic performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to teach in a very precedence subject area as discovered from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should reveal a dedication to educating and an comprehension of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line through the official Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (to the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the end with the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent calendar year (commonly here November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes through a variety procedure depending on the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and learning products
- A small 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, get more info 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.