The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of skilled teachers in the country.
It offers monetary support to qualified students who need to go after a teaching qualification in places which can be critical with the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to boost teaching as a occupation by funding college 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, for instance:
- 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to display satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to intend to teach within a priority subject area as determined because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to reveal a dedication to educating and an understanding of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated website for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window ordinarily opens towards the top 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 needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes here by a variety procedure depending on the need for teachers in specific subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and learning products
- A little stipend for other living costs
***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.