The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of skilled teachers while in the country.
It provides monetary assistance to qualified students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in places that happen to be crucial for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to boost teaching being a occupation 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 selected scarcity of teachers, such as:
- 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 plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must present satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to educate inside of a precedence subject area as discovered through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants need to display a determination to educating and an idea of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (on 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 subsequent calendar year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants Funza Lushaka from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by way of a selection process according to the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying components
- A small 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 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.