The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the lack of certified teachers during the country.
It provides economic support to qualified students who would like to go after a teaching qualification in places which are essential for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to boost teaching as a career 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 certain shortage of teachers, such as:
- 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**: Should be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to clearly show satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to educate inside a priority subject area as recognized via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to exhibit a motivation to educating and an understanding of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary technique (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end of the academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent calendar year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes via a range course of action based on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying components
- A little stipend for other living costs
***Conditions for Working Back the Bursary:
Upon graduation, bursary recipients are required to:
1. **Teach in a Public Funza lushaka online application 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.