The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative geared toward addressing the lack of experienced teachers in the country.
It offers economic aid to eligible students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which might be important with the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to promote teaching being a career 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 selected lack of teachers, which include:
- 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or presently 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 must exhibit satisfactory academic performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to intend to educate inside of a priority subject area as discovered from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to show a determination to teaching and an idea of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Process For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net with the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (over the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Internet Funza site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window ordinarily opens towards the end in the academic calendar year and closes early the following year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by means of a selection method dependant on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and areas.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning resources
- A small stipend for other living costs
***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. Funza Lushaka 2025 **Service Placement**: The Department of Basic Education will get more info 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.