The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the lack of skilled teachers within the country.
It provides financial aid to qualified students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which might be crucial for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to boost educating like a occupation 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 selected 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**: Should 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 recognized South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must display satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to educate within a precedence subject area as determined with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to reveal a determination to educating and an knowledge of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older Funza than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet in the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window ordinarily opens towards the end from the academic yr and closes early the following year (normally 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 applying goes by way of a variety procedure according to the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and studying products
- 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 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.