The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of experienced teachers in the country.
It offers monetary help to suitable students who desire to go after a teaching qualification in places that happen to be vital with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to promote teaching 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 certain shortage 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**: Must plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must display satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must plan to teach within a priority subject area as discovered through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants have to display a motivation 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 For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted online throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary system (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window usually opens towards the end from the academic year and closes early the following calendar year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Funza lushaka requirements Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by means of a selection process based on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying elements
- 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, 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.