The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the lack of experienced teachers while in the country.
It offers financial aid to eligible students who would like to go after a teaching qualification in locations which can be vital for your education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to promote educating being a profession by funding university students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain 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**: Should 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) at 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 into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should show satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to teach inside of a priority subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must show a dedication to teaching and an knowledge of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window commonly opens towards the top of your academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent calendar year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes via a selection method according to the need for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and learning elements
- 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 more info 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.