The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of qualified teachers in the country.
It provides economic assistance to qualified students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been essential to the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to boost teaching as being a profession 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 particular shortage 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**: Needs 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) at a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to demonstrate satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to intend to teach inside of a precedence subject area as recognized from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants need to display a commitment to educating and an knowledge of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet through the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the top from the academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes as a result of a range procedure based on the need for teachers in specific subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying materials
- A small stipend for here 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 Funza lushaka requirements 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 website is subject to satisfactory academic performance.