The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers during the country.
It offers monetary support to qualified students who prefer to go after a teaching qualification in locations which are vital for your education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to promote educating for a occupation 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 lack of teachers, which include:
- 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 plan to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to display satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to educate in the priority subject area as recognized via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants need to display a commitment to teaching and an knowledge of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted online through the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end on the academic yr and closes early the next year (usually Funza lushaka requirements November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by means of a selection process based upon the need for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and learning materials
- 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.