The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the lack of experienced teachers within the country.
It provides monetary aid to suitable students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places which are vital for your education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to encourage educating being a profession by funding students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain 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**: Has to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend 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 need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to exhibit satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to teach in a very precedence subject area as identified through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must display a commitment to teaching and an knowledge of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary program (over the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window normally opens towards the top in the academic calendar year and closes early the following year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by way of a selection system determined by the need for teachers in particular subjects and places.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and studying products
- A little 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, read more and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.