Online move for teaching bursary
Aspiring teachers can now apply for the Funza Lushaka Bursary online.
The department of basic education (DBE) says it is moving away from the paper application system.
The online registration system will go live on Friday.
DBE spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the system had been developed under the guidance of the State Information Technology Agency.
“The modernised system will allow for more seamless registration of candidates, while allowing for improved selection, monitoring and placement of candidates and beneficiaries, while further strengthening identification of defaulting bursars and reinforcing the monitoring of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme [NSFAS] distribution process,” said Mhlanga.
The bursary programme is a multi-year programme that focus on promoting teaching as a profession.
Funza Lushaka bursary recipients are required to teach at a public school for the same number of years that they receive the bursary, which covers their full costs.
Provincial education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said government was obliged to ensure that teachers whose studies were funded by the government were placed where needed, as this was deemed as repaying the nation for their qualification.
“Each year of service will repay one full-time year that the bursary was paid for,” said Mtima.
The director for the bursary programme, Gerrit Coetzee said: “In moving into a new era we are confident that the system will allow for an improved education system and management of the programme.”
Qualifying, current and prospective candidates can visit the Funza Lushaka website to apply and register online for the 2019 intake.