The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the lack of experienced teachers during the country.
It offers monetary help to eligible students who desire to pursue a teaching qualification in places that are critical for that schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching as being 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 selected shortage 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must demonstrate satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to educate inside a priority subject area as recognized because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants get more info ought to reveal a determination to educating and an comprehension of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (around the Department of Basic Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window commonly opens towards the tip of the academic 12 months and closes early the following calendar year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes via a variety process dependant on the need for teachers in specific subjects and places.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Textbooks and studying products
- 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.