The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the lack of certified teachers within the country.
It offers monetary support to suitable students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in locations that happen to be vital with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to promote educating being a profession by funding university students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific lack of teachers, for example:
- 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**: Should intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to show satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to teach within a precedence subject area as discovered by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants need to exhibit a motivation to educating and an comprehension of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web from the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (around the Department of Basic Education's focused Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window normally opens towards the end from the academic year and closes early the next year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes through a variety process website dependant on the need for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and learning elements
- 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.