The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative targeted at addressing the shortage of experienced teachers during the country.
It offers economic guidance to suitable students who want to go after a teaching qualification in places which have been critical for the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to promote educating to be a career 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 shortage 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**: Has to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should show satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Should plan to teach in a very priority subject area as determined from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must exhibit a determination to educating and an knowledge of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (on the Department of Basic Education's focused Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end of your academic 12 months and closes early the next calendar year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by a variety procedure determined by the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Books and learning Funza lushaka status check elements
- A little 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.