The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of competent teachers within the country.
It provides economic assistance to eligible students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in places that are essential for that schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to promote teaching as being a occupation by funding 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, 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend 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 rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should present satisfactory academic performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to intend to teach inside of a priority subject area as discovered because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants ought to show a determination to teaching and an comprehension of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Process With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line throughout the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the tip of the academic year and closes early the following year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by a selection method Funza Lushaka 2025 depending on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and locations.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying supplies
- 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 read more year, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.