The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed at addressing the scarcity of qualified teachers while in the country.
It offers economic aid to suitable students who wish to go after a teaching qualification in locations which can be critical for your education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to boost teaching being a profession by funding university students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected scarcity of teachers, like:
- 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**: Should be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to present satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to educate in a very priority subject area as determined from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must exhibit a determination to teaching and an knowledge of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net through the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window usually opens towards the end of your academic 12 months and closes early the next year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes as a result of a selection procedure determined by the need for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying elements
- A small 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 click here 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.