The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed at addressing the lack of capable teachers while in the country.
It offers monetary aid to eligible students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which might be critical to the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to boost teaching as a career by funding students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific scarcity 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should demonstrate satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to teach within a precedence subject area as recognized with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should exhibit a dedication to teaching and an knowledge of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. click here ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line with the official Funza Lushaka bursary system (over the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window normally opens towards the end of the academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent calendar year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes as a result of a range approach determined by the need for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying elements
- A small 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 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.