The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the shortage of skilled teachers from the country.
It provides financial assistance to suitable students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in places which can be critical with the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost teaching for a profession by funding college students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected 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**: Has 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) in a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to exhibit satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to intend to educate inside a priority subject area as discovered via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants have to exhibit a dedication to educating and an knowledge of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web throughout the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end of the academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a range course of action dependant on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Textbooks and learning materials
- A little 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 Funza lushaka status check 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.