The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the scarcity of qualified teachers during the country.
It offers monetary help to eligible students who want to go after a teaching qualification in places that are critical for that education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to promote educating as a occupation 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 particular lack of teachers, which include:
- 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 plan to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a recognized South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should display satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Should plan to educate in the precedence subject area as determined by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants should exhibit a commitment to teaching and an idea of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet through the official Funza Lushaka bursary system (over the Department of Basic Education's focused Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the tip on the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent calendar year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a selection procedure dependant on the need for teachers in particular subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying resources
- A small stipend for other living expenditures
***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 Funza lushaka login 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.