The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the shortage of certified teachers in the country.
It offers financial assistance to qualified students who desire to go after a teaching qualification in locations that happen to be essential with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage educating being a occupation 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 particular lack of teachers, including:
- 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**: Must plan to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to exhibit satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to educate inside of a priority subject area as discovered from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants need to display a determination to teaching and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window generally opens towards the tip from the academic year and closes early the subsequent year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes by means of a click here selection system determined by the need for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and learning components
- 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 more info 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 Funza Lushaka 2025 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.