The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of competent teachers inside the country.
It offers monetary aid to suitable students who prefer to go after a teaching qualification in areas which have been crucial for the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to promote educating like a career by funding college students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain lack of teachers, for example:
- 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**: Should 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 regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to show satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Must intend to teach within a priority subject area as determined through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to reveal a dedication to teaching and an understanding of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years after they apply.
*** Application Process For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet with the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (within the Department of Basic Education's focused Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the top on the academic year and closes early the subsequent year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes through a variety process depending on the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and .
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and learning elements
- A small 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 Funza Lushaka 2025 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.