The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of capable teachers within the country.
It provides financial help to qualified students who wish to go after a teaching qualification in places which might be critical for the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost educating for a career by funding college 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, such as:
- 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should show satisfactory academic performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to intend to educate within a precedence subject area as identified through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants need to reveal a commitment to teaching and an comprehension of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (about the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
Funza bursary - The applying window ordinarily opens towards the top of the academic year and closes early the following year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes via a selection method determined by the need for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and learning elements
- 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.