The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the lack of skilled teachers from the country.
It provides economic support to eligible students who need to pursue a teaching qualification in places which can be crucial with the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to boost educating as being a occupation by funding students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain lack of teachers, like:
- 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should plan to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students ought to demonstrate satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to intend to teach in a very precedence subject area as identified because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants ought to reveal a dedication to educating and an idea of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than thirty years once they apply.
*** Application Procedure For your Funza Lushaka 2025 Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted online in the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (within the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the top of your academic 12 months and closes early the following calendar year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a selection procedure based upon the need for teachers in certain subjects and places.
***Exactly what does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Books and learning materials
- 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 Funza Lushaka 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 year, and the renewal is subject to satisfactory academic performance.