The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative directed at addressing the lack of skilled teachers in the country.
It offers financial support to eligible students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been essential for the education sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to boost teaching as a profession by funding university students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected shortage 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Academic 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 have to show satisfactory academic performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to educate in the precedence subject area as discovered because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must show a motivation to educating and an idea of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years when they apply.
*** Application Process For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net through the official Funza Lushaka bursary technique (on the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window typically opens towards the tip on the academic 12 months and closes early the next year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes as a result of a range course of action Funza Lushaka 2025 based on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and locations.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the Funza Lushaka application subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying resources
- 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 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 Funza 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.