The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers from the country.
It provides financial aid to qualified students who want to go after a teaching qualification in locations which might be crucial for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching to be a occupation by funding students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular scarcity of teachers, like:
- 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 already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must exhibit satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Should plan to educate in a very priority subject area as recognized because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants should exhibit a determination to educating and an understanding of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty here years more info after they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted online with the official Funza Lushaka bursary technique (over the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end in the academic 12 months and closes early the next year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by way of more info a variety approach dependant on the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning components
- A small 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.