The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the scarcity of competent teachers inside the country.
It provides monetary support to eligible students who wish to go after a teaching qualification in areas which are crucial for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to encourage educating to be 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 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to clearly show satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to educate in a priority subject area as recognized via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should exhibit a motivation to teaching and an knowledge of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years once they Funza Lushaka application apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web from the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the end from the academic calendar year and closes early the Funza lushaka login next year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes via a variety system based upon the need for teachers in particular subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and studying supplies
- 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 website 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.