The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the scarcity of competent teachers within the country.

It offers economic assistance to suitable students who would like to pursue a teaching qualification in locations which might be crucial for the education and learning sector.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to boost teaching for a profession by funding students to study for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain lack of teachers, including:

- 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) at a identified South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants should have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to display satisfactory academic efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to educate inside of a priority subject area as identified with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to demonstrate a determination to educating and an idea of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years when they apply.

*** Application Process For the Funza Lushaka Bursary:

1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet throughout the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary procedure (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window normally opens towards the tip from the academic 12 months and closes read more early the following calendar year (typically November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and proof of university registration are demanded.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is offered to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes as a result of a selection approach based on the need for teachers in certain subjects and areas.

***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and studying materials
- 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 here 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.