The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed toward addressing the shortage of certified teachers inside the country.
It provides economic assistance to eligible students who desire to go after a teaching qualification in locations which have been significant to the schooling sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to promote educating to be a career by funding students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular shortage of teachers, including:
- 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**: Have to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must 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 will need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to display satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to teach in a precedence subject area as identified because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants should display a dedication to educating and an knowledge of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than Funza thirty years when they apply.
*** Application Procedure For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line from the official Funza Lushaka bursary technique (on the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web Funza Lushaka 2025 page for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the tip of your academic year and closes early the next year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The appliance goes as a result of a range process determined by the need for teachers in particular subjects and places.
***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying materials
- A little 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 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.