The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the shortage of experienced teachers from the country.
It offers economic guidance to qualified students who prefer to go after a teaching qualification in locations which have been significant with the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to encourage teaching as 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 particular 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 already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should exhibit satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to teach in the precedence subject area as identified with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants need to display a commitment 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 Process For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line throughout the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (on the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end from the academic year and closes early the following year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a range system according to the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying components
- A little stipend for other living costs
***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 Funza 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.