The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme is a multi-year programme to promote teaching as a profession. Bursaries are available to enable selected students who meet the requirements to complete a teaching qualification in identified areas of priority. Recipients of these bursaries will be required to teach at a public school for the same number of years that they received the bursary.
BURSARY PROGRAMME FIELDS COVERED
The Department of Education in South Africa has a bursary programme for student teachers that require study funding – The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme. The aim of this bursary award is to help financially disadvantaged students who intend on studying in the Education sector, who will ultimately give back to the community by teaching at public schools.
Bursaries will be awarded for the following qualifications:
Undergraduate studies:
Bachelor of Education degree (4 year B Ed): specializing in Foundation Phase (Grade R-3), Intermediate Phase (Grade 4-6), Senior Phase (Grade 7-9), and FET Phase (Grade 10-12).
Postgraduate studies:
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (1 year PGCE): degree must include at least 1 major in one of the two priority subjects.
Note that some university qualifications combine specialization in the Foundation Phase and Intermediate Phase, or the Intermediate Phase and Senior Phase, or the Senior Phase and FET Phase, which are also acceptable.
Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme and Requirements Coverage Value & Service Contract
The bursary covers the following expenses: tuition fees, prescribed textbooks, study materials, accommodation, meals and an allowance for general living expenses.
Please note: on completion of the teaching qualification, bursary applicants will be required to teach at a public school for the equal duration of their bursary.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):
- South African citizen
- Currently in Matric OR have completed Matric
- 30 years old or younger if applying for the first time
- Accepted into a suitable qualification, at a recognized tertiary institution
- Must be able to show the satisfactory academic capability
- Have NOT completed another teaching qualification
- Willing to teach at a school appointed to them by the Provincial Education Department
- A keen interest in working with children
- Clear criminal record
- NOT have any charges of misconduct or dismissed from work
- *Preference will be given to applicants in rural areas and applicants who intend on teaching in rural areas
First-time university Entrants:
- Achieved a Matric exemption/ endorsement/ bachelor degree admission
- Achieved a minimum of level 4 in Matric for the subject you intend on specializing to teach
- If intending on specializing in Foundation Phase – must have passed Matric Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy AND achieved a minimum of level 4 for your Home Language
- If intending on specializing in Technology subjects (including CAT) – must have achieved a minimum level 4 for Mathematics in Matric
- If completed Matric before 2008 when Mathematics was not a compulsory subject – must have achieved a minimum average of 50%
- If the tertiary institution’s entry requirements are higher than the bursary requirement, or vice versa, the higher requirement will apply
Students currently at university:
- Passed all subjects in last year of tertiary study
- Achieved a minimum average of 55% for all subjects studied in the last year of tertiary study
- Achieved a minimum average of 55% for subjects related to the teaching area of specialization in last year of tertiary study
New students enrolling for PGCE:
- Completed a qualification that allows admission into PGCE
- For PGCE Foundation Phase Teaching – must have majored in an African Language and Psychology
- For PGCE Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase, Further Education and Training Teaching – must have majored in the chosen area of specialization from the Bachelor’s degree
- Have a minimum of 2 selected priority subjects at 2nd year of study
- Have enough subjects in the selected priority subjects to qualify to teach at school
Current bursary recipients:
- Achieved a minimum average of 50% across all subjects
- Passed a minimum of two-thirds of subjects studied in the most recent year of university study
- Passed a minimum of two-thirds of priority subjects in the most recent year of Higher Education study
- If doing 1 priority subject – must have passed the subject
- Progressing to the next year of study
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE BURSARY
Check requirements and apply for FUNZA bursary here
CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER
All enquiries about the bursary must be directed to the Funza Lushaka academic and administrative coordinators at your university. They will be best placed to respond to any issues. Students should not communicate directly with NSFAS (the financial managers of the scheme) or with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) or the Department of Higher Education and Training. Students may not come in person to the DBE, but should phone and enquire at 012 357 3000 or email us at inquiries.funzalushaka@dbe.gov.za.
Check FAQS by clicking the button below;
[button-red url=”http://www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za/faq/faq.jsp” target=”_blank” position=”center”]FAQs[/button-red]
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