The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed at addressing the lack of certified teachers in the country.
It provides economic assistance to qualified students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been essential with the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to promote teaching being a career by funding university students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular lack of teachers, like:
- 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**: Should plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a acknowledged 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 show satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to teach inside a precedence subject area as determined because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants must reveal a dedication to teaching and an idea of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than thirty years after they apply.
*** Application Process For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net with the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (on the Department of Basic Education's focused website for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window usually opens towards the tip with the academic year and closes early the following year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Funza Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by way of a range process determined by the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and Funza areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and learning 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 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 Funza lushaka requirements the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.