The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the shortage of certified teachers while in the country.

It provides economic support to eligible students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in places which can be vital for the schooling sector.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to boost teaching as a occupation 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 certain shortage 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 intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to exhibit satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to teach in the precedence subject area as determined via the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must display a motivation to educating and an idea of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.

*** Application Process To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:

1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the net from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (over the Department of Basic Education's focused Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window typically opens towards the top on the academic yr and closes early the following calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes by a selection process based on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and places.

***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and studying 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. **Service Placement**: The Department of get more info 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.