The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of qualified teachers in the country.
It offers economic support to suitable students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places that are important to the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to encourage teaching as being 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 selected shortage of teachers, for instance:
- 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 intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at 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 will have to demonstrate satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to educate in a precedence subject area as determined from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should reveal a commitment to teaching and an understanding of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Funza lushaka status check Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet in the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (on the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the end on the academic calendar year and closes early the next calendar year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by a selection approach depending on the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and studying products
- A little stipend for other living expenses
***Conditions for Funza 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 click here 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.