The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the lack of competent teachers while in the country.
It provides economic aid to qualified students who prefer to go after a teaching qualification in places that happen to be critical with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching as a career by funding students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific 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 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 must have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to present satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to teach in the precedence subject area as identified through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants have to display a determination to educating and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line in the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (over the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the tip in the academic year and closes early the following calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies website of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying website goes by a variety process depending on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Books and studying components
- A little 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 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.