The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of certified teachers from the country.
It provides monetary guidance to suitable students who desire to go after a teaching qualification in places which have been vital for that education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to promote teaching as a profession by funding university students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific scarcity 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must clearly show satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to educate inside of a precedence subject area as recognized by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to show a commitment to educating and an understanding of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net throughout the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the end of the academic year and closes early the subsequent year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by a selection approach depending on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent read more expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation here and foods
- Books and learning resources
- 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.