Funza Lushaka bursary is a multi-year programme that provides financial support to students pursuing teaching degrees and is available to qualified students to complete a teaching degree. The Funza Lushaka Bursary funds the following degrees: Bachelor of Education (BEd) Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
The Funza Lushaka Bursary is very popular in South Africa. If you want to make a difference and become a teacher, the Funza bursary could be an option to fund your study. They offer support to undergraduate students who want to become a teacher, and they also offer a 1-year post-graduate bursary (PGCE)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The programme
1. What is the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme?
The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme is a multi-year programme to promote teaching as a profession. Bursaries are available to enable selected students to complete a teaching qualification in identified Subject priority areas. Recipients of these bursaries will be required to teach at a public school for the same number of years that they received the bursary.
Roles and responsibilities
2. How are roles and responsibilities for the Funza Lushaka programme separated?
This is a national programme which is administered each public higher education institution (HEI). It is funded by National Treasury and managed by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) financially administers the programme on behalf of DBE through the Student Financial Aid office at each HEI.
Provincial Co-ordinators implement district and community based teacher recruitment programmes in collaboration with – district co-coordinators. Provincial Co-ordinators respond to queries from applicants in their respective provinces and districts and assist them to apply online for the bursary. Provincial Co-ordinators manage the provincial selections of the district recruited applicants.
Selected students must meet the admission criteria of the academic programme at the HEI to which they apply, and must meet the national selection criteria for the Funza Lushaka bursary. Selection of bursars is undertaken at each HEI in accordance with the selection criteria and the funds allocated to each HEI.
Once qualified, bursary recipients are placed by a provincial education department.
Applications and eligibility
3. Who is eligible to apply?
Any academically gifted, young –
- learners, currently in Grade 12;
- graduates below the age of 30 who want to complete a teaching qualification or enrol for a PGCE;
- people below the age of 30 who want to make a career change and become teachers; and
- unemployed people below the age of 30 who want to become teachers.
4. How does a student apply?
Prospective bursars must first gain admission at a higher education institution (HEI). Applications may be submitted online at www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za .
5. Where can prospective students find out more about the bursary programme?
Information on the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme can be accessed from www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za and www.education.gov.za .
Student Financial Aid offices will give details of financial matters, service obligations, etc.
Staff in the Faculty or School of Education at HEIs will provide information on teaching as a profession, academic programmes and an individual’s eligibility for admission.
6. How does an institution determine whether a student’s academic programme complies with the
selection criterion?
The bursary programme is designed to boost recruitment into teaching, in priority subject areas. In most cases, Faculty or School of Education staff will be able to assist students with the Funza Lushaka priority subjects to determine a student’s teaching priority subjects guided by the Funza Lushaka Policy.