The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative directed at addressing the shortage of experienced teachers within the country.
It offers monetary help to suitable students who need to go after a teaching qualification in areas which are critical for the education and learning sector.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to boost educating 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 specific shortage of teachers, such as:
- 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to show satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Should intend to teach in a very priority subject area as recognized from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to exhibit a commitment to educating and an knowledge of its significance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.
*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. ** On line Application**:
- Funza Lushaka 2025 Applications are submitted on the net in the official Funza Lushaka bursary program (on the Department of Basic Education's dedicated website for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window commonly opens towards the end on the academic calendar year and closes early the following year here (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by a variety procedure depending on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and areas.
***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and studying materials
- A little stipend for other living expenses
***Conditions for Working Back click here 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.