The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of capable teachers during the country.
It provides financial guidance to eligible students who want to go after a teaching qualification in areas which might be crucial with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage educating being a profession by funding university students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain shortage of teachers, for instance:
- 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**: Should be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to display satisfactory academic performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to educate inside a priority subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants need here to display a determination to educating and an comprehension of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line throughout the official Funza Lushaka bursary technique (over the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the top of the academic yr and closes early the next year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration website are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes as a result of a range approach according to the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent check here expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying elements
- 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.