The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of skilled teachers in the country.
It provides monetary support to suitable students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in locations that happen to be vital for the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to promote educating as being a career by funding college students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected scarcity 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 previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must demonstrate satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to educate inside of a priority subject area as recognized with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to demonstrate a dedication to teaching and an knowledge of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (about the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window generally opens towards the tip on the academic yr and closes early the next year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by way of a variety method based upon the need for teachers in specific subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning products
- 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 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 here "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 Funza Lushaka Bursary reapply every year, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.