The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative geared toward addressing the lack of qualified teachers from the country.

It provides monetary assistance to qualified students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in places which have been vital with the education sector.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to promote teaching to be a profession by funding college students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific scarcity of teachers, which include:

- 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 plan to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants will need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students need to display satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Have to plan to educate in the priority subject area as identified with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to teaching and an knowledge of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years when they apply.

*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:

1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line with the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (within the Department of Basic Education's focused Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window commonly opens towards the tip in the academic yr and closes early the following calendar year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes via a selection procedure determined by the need for teachers in specific subjects Funza Lushaka and places.

***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning products
- 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 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.