The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of qualified teachers during the country.
It provides economic help to suitable students who desire to go after a teaching qualification in areas which can be important with the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to encourage teaching to be a occupation by funding students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific lack of teachers, including:
- 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**: Should plan to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to present satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to teach in the precedence subject area as discovered through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to exhibit a determination to educating and an understanding of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line through the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the top of your academic year and closes early the next 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 offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes as a result of a range process depending on the need for teachers in certain subjects and .
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying materials
- A small 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**: website The Department of Basic Education will place recipients in schools where their skills are needed, often in Funza lushaka status check 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.