The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of capable teachers during the country.
It offers economic aid to suitable students who need to go after a teaching qualification in locations which are essential to the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to encourage teaching to be 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 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 regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should demonstrate satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to educate in a priority subject area as discovered from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to show a motivation to educating and an comprehension of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the tip with the academic 12 months and closes early the next year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes via a range approach determined by the need for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying supplies
- A little 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 Funza Lushaka 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.