The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the shortage of competent teachers within the country.
It offers financial assistance to qualified students who want to go after a teaching qualification in locations that are important for that education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is meant to boost educating as being a occupation by funding university students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular scarcity 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must present satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to teach within a priority subject area as identified by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to reveal a commitment to educating and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (within the Department of Basic website Education's focused Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the top of the academic year and closes early the next calendar year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes through a range process determined by the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying materials
- A little 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 check here 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 Funza Lushaka 2025 every year, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.