The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the lack of qualified teachers during the country.
It provides financial guidance to suitable students who prefer to go after a teaching qualification in areas which have been essential for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching for a profession 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, for example:
- 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must demonstrate satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to educate inside a priority subject area as determined because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to exhibit a commitment to educating and an idea of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants Funza Lushaka application shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted online with the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (around the Department of Basic Education's focused Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window ordinarily opens towards the top of the academic year and closes early the following calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes as a result of a selection course of action dependant on the need for teachers in specific subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and studying components
- 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 Funza 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 Funza Lushaka application 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.