The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative targeted at addressing the shortage of certified teachers within the country.
It offers monetary assistance to suitable students who want to go after a teaching qualification in places which are critical for that schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching to be a profession by funding 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 intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to demonstrate satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to educate in a very precedence subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants should exhibit a determination to educating and an understanding of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the end of the academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference read more is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes via a range course of action dependant on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying supplies
- 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, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.