The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme is a multi-year programme that promotes teaching in public schools. Full-cost bursaries are available to enable eligible students to complete a full teaching qualification in an area of national priority. This bursary is only available to applicants studying towards a qualification in a Teaching field aimed at specialising in a specific priority area.

Students who do not qualify for a Funza Lushaka bursary can still apply for the DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - TEACHER LOAN funding option. Contact the Financial Aid Office at the university for all assistance in application.

Recipients of these bursaries will be required to teach at a public school for the same number of years that they receive the bursary.

• Grades R-9: Foundation Phase; African Languages; English Language; Mathematics; Natural Science; Technology.
• Grades 10-12: African Languages; English Language; Mathematics; Mathematical Literacy; Agricultural Sciences; Life Sciences; Physical Science; Agricultural, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Information Technology, Computer Applications Technology; Engineering Graphics and Design.

• Undergraduate studies
  • 4-year Bachelor of Education degree (B Ed), specialising in Foundation Phase (Grade R - 3), Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 - 6), Senior Phase (Grade 7 - 9) and FET Phase (Grade 10-12).

• Undergraduate studies
  • 3/4 -year Bachelors degree e.g. Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Technology in fields suitable for admission to the one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Application for funding for a Bachelors degree implies that the applicant commits to enroll for the PGCE upon completion of the undergraduate degree.

• Graduate studies
  • One-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) for graduates whose degrees include majors in priority areas.

You may study at any of the public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa that offer the required degree courses as specified above.

This funding is not available to students studying at private institutions.

• Students must be South African citizens who have successfully completed Grade 12.
• Applicants for the bursary must already have been accepted into an appropriate study programme at a recognised higher education institution.
• Students must have proven academic ability to succeed.
• Students must meet the institution's eligibility criteria for an approved Teaching degree or PGCE in one of the specialised priority areas.
• Students must include at least one of the priority area specialisation subjects as a teaching subject in their qualification.
• Students must be committed to a teaching career, which includes: interest in working with young people; enthusiasm for a professional career in teaching; readiness to face and surmount difficult challenges and personal integrity;
• Students must be committed to teach in any school to which he/she may be appointed by a Provincial Education Department (PED).
• Selection should favour the following candidates:
  • candidates from rural areas;
  • candidates who wish to teach in rural areas; and/or
  • candidates whose financial position would otherwise exclude them from enrolment for a teaching qualification.
• No Financial Means Test is required.
• Potential students who already have other teaching qualifications do not qualify for this programme.

• The academic institution's School of Education selects the candidates and the National Department of Education confirms the selections.

• Funza Lushaka bursaries cover all the recipient's essential expenses according to an expense model developed by the Department of Education. Expenses covered include tuition, full accommodation including meals, books and learning materials, and a small allowance for monthly living expenses. There is a ceiling on the amount individual students can receive.

• The bursary period may be extended to cover one additional year in a degree programme, or the time required for completion of one additional course in the PGCE programme. This extension is not automatic, and is entirely at the discretion of the National Department of Education. Evidence of effort and dedication to studies will be used to make decisions about extensions. Only one such extension will be granted.
• Any additional time required to complete the course will be at the recipient's own cost. The bursary is provided for one academic year at a time. On provision of proof of academic success, and pending availability of funds, the bursary may be renewed each year until the recipient of the bursary has qualified as a teacher.

• Universities have different cost structures, so the total value of a bursary differs from institution to institution.

Recipients of these bursaries will be required to teach at a public school for the same number of years that they receive the bursary.

Qualified recipients of the bursary must request placement in a province of their choice. A placement form, distributed by the National Department of Education, must be used to request placement. The Provincial Education Department (PED) concerned will determine whether there is suitable post available. If there is not, the applicant may be placed in a PED that does have suitable vacancies. Please note that bursars cannot choose the school in which they would like to be placed.

Conditions for repayment of the bursary

The bursary must be repaid only if the recipient:

• fails to qualify,
• fails to request placement upon graduation (using the official placement request form).
• fails to take up a teaching post with a PED at a public school,
• leaves a teaching post with a PED before the end of the contracted service period, or
• fails to meet any of the requirements of the bursary agreement.

• Students need to apply for admission to a teaching qualification (B Ed or PGCE) or a Bachelors degree (e.g. BSc, B Tech, BA) with at least one major course in a priority area at a university of their choice.
• Once a student has gained admission at a university, he/she is required to apply for the bursary via the Funza Lushaka website at www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za.
• Students who do not have access to the Internet must contact the Financial Aid Office at the institution where they have been accepted for teacher education studies for the necessary application forms and assistance.
• The bursary is awarded for one academic year at a time. On proof of academic success, the bursary may be renewed each year until the recipient of the bursary has qualified as a teacher. The bursary holder will be required to re-apply by the end of October for the following year.

• Students who do not have access to the Internet must contact the Financial Aid Office at the institution where they have been have been accepted for teacher education studies for the necessary application forms and assistance.
• Applications for 2011 from new applicants (i.e. those students who will be entering university for the first time, or who are already at university but have not received the Funza Lushaka bursary before.)
  • Applications will be accepted online from the 1st October 2010.
  • There are three closing dates for receipt of applications from new applicants. The earlier the date an applicant meets, the earlier the application will be considered and finalised. Applicants meeting later dates can only be considered if there are still funds available after the applicants who met earlier dates have been considered.
  • The deadline for receipt of applications from new applicants is 28th January 2011. Applications received after 28th January 2011 will not be considered.
• Applications for 2011 from returning bursars (i.e. those students who have received the bursary but wish to apply for the following year of study):
  • Applications will be accepted online from the 1st October 2010.
  • The deadline for receipt of applications from returning bursars is 19th November 2010.
  • Applications received after 15^th November 2010 will not be considered.

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