The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the scarcity of competent teachers during the country.
It provides financial guidance to suitable students who want to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which are vital for that education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to promote teaching as being a profession by funding college students to study to get 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**: Have to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or currently 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 rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should show satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to teach inside a precedence subject area as recognized by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants should reveal a motivation to educating and an knowledge of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary program (to here the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window ordinarily opens towards the end in the academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent calendar year (usually 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 appliance goes by a range system determined by the need for teachers in specific subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and learning 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 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 Funza Lushaka 2025 other requirements. Recipients need to reapply every year, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.