The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of experienced teachers inside the country.
It offers financial guidance to eligible students who would like to go after a teaching qualification in places that happen to be vital with the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to encourage educating as a profession by funding students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific shortage 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must display satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to teach in a priority subject area as recognized with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to reveal a determination to educating and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted online from the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated website for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window ordinarily opens towards the top of your academic year and closes early the following calendar year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The Funza Lushaka 2025 appliance goes by way of a variety approach based on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and learning materials
- A little stipend for other living expenses
***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.