The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the shortage of qualified teachers inside the country.
It offers monetary help to suitable students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been critical for that schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to boost teaching like a occupation by funding college students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected lack of teachers, which include:
- 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 plan to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (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 educate in a precedence subject area as determined from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants need to exhibit a determination to educating and an idea of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line from the official Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end from the academic year and closes early the following calendar year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by means of a selection process dependant Funza Lushaka Bursary on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and studying supplies
- A little 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 website 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.