The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed toward addressing the scarcity of qualified teachers in the country.

It offers monetary help to suitable students who prefer to pursue a teaching qualification in places that are significant to the education and learning sector.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to promote teaching as a occupation by funding university students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a selected shortage of teachers, for example:

- 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**: Must plan to enroll or previously be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to present satisfactory academic general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to educate inside of a precedence subject area as determined because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants have to exhibit a dedication to teaching and an idea of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years when they apply.

*** Application Procedure To the Funza Lushaka Bursary:

1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted online in the official Funza Lushaka bursary system (over the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window typically opens towards the tip of the academic yr and closes early the subsequent year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, Funza educational results, and proof of university registration are essential.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes by way of a selection system based on the need for teachers in particular subjects and places.

***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Publications and learning resources
- A little stipend for other living costs

***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.