The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the lack of certified teachers while in the country.
It provides economic aid to qualified students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in places which are critical with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching for a profession by funding university students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected shortage of teachers, for instance:
- 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**: Has to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan 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 must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to show satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to educate within a priority subject area as recognized with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants have to reveal a commitment to teaching and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web with the official Funza Lushaka bursary process (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the tip from the academic 12 months and closes early the following calendar year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by way of a range method according to the need for teachers in particular subjects and .
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and studying elements
- A little 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 more info 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.