The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of certified teachers during the country.
It provides economic support to eligible students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which might be crucial for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage educating like a career by funding students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular scarcity of teachers, such as:
- 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**: Has to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must clearly show satisfactory academic performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to educate inside of a precedence subject area as recognized by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants ought to exhibit a dedication to teaching and an idea of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line with the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (within the Department of Basic Education's focused Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the top of the academic calendar year and Funza closes early the following calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by means of a range approach depending on the need for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying components
- 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 read more 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.