The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the lack of capable teachers during the country.
It offers financial guidance to qualified students who desire to pursue a teaching qualification in places that are important to the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to encourage teaching to be a profession 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 lack 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should present satisfactory academic overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to educate inside of a precedence subject area as identified from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants need to exhibit a motivation to educating and an comprehension of its worth in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary program (to the Department of Basic Education's focused Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the end from the academic yr and closes early the subsequent year (generally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes via a range procedure determined by the need for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying 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 Funza Lushaka 2025 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.