The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the shortage of skilled teachers within the country.
It provides financial assistance to eligible students who want to go after a teaching qualification in places which can be vital to the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is made to boost educating like 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 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**: Should be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to show satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to educate in a priority subject area as recognized because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must show a motivation to teaching and an Funza lushaka status check comprehension of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted online through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the top on the academic yr and closes early the following calendar year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes through a variety procedure according to the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does here The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Books and learning products
- 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.