The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed at addressing the lack of qualified teachers during the country.
It provides economic support to suitable students who would like to go after a teaching qualification in areas which are important for the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to promote teaching for a career by funding 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 scarcity 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend 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 must present satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to educate in a very priority subject area as recognized from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to exhibit a dedication to educating and an comprehension of its value in check here society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web with the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary method (over the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window generally opens towards the top in the academic calendar year and closes early the following year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference Funza lushaka login is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes via a variety approach according to the need for teachers in specific subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and learning components
- A 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**: here 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.