The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of qualified teachers while in the country.
It offers financial guidance to eligible students who would like to go after a teaching qualification in areas that are significant for your education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to promote teaching like a career by funding 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 shortage of teachers, including:
- 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**: Should plan to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a recognized South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to display satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to educate inside of a precedence subject area as determined with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to demonstrate a commitment to educating and an comprehension of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 read more years when they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line with the official Funza Lushaka bursary system (on the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the tip in the academic yr and closes early the following 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 appliance goes via a selection system according to the need for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and learning components
- 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.