The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of certified teachers in the country.
It offers monetary help to suitable students who want to go after a teaching qualification in places which are important for that education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to encourage educating like a career by funding students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific scarcity of teachers, which include:
- 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**: Have 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 recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to present satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to educate in a priority subject area as identified through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to demonstrate a motivation to educating and an idea of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary system (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the tip in the academic yr and closes early the subsequent calendar year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by means of a selection system based on the need for teachers in certain subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and learning resources
- A click here 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 recipients in schools where their skills are needed, often in rural or underserved areas.
3. **Failure to Fulfill the Obligation**: If the recipient click here 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 Funza Lushaka is subject to satisfactory academic performance.