The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the lack of qualified teachers from the country.

It offers financial assistance to eligible students who desire to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which have been crucial for your education sector.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to promote teaching as being a occupation by funding college students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a specific shortage of teachers, such as:

- 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**: Must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or already be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a identified South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants must have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must clearly show satisfactory academic performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to intend to educate inside a precedence subject area as identified because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants will have to demonstrate a commitment to educating and an comprehension of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years after they apply.

*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:

1. ** On line Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the internet from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (within the Department of Basic Education's focused Web-site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window usually opens towards the end with the academic yr and closes early the next calendar year (ordinarily November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of Funza Lushaka application ID, academic results, and evidence of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The applying goes through a selection method determined by the need for teachers in certain subjects and locations.

***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and studying supplies
- A little stipend for other living expenditures

***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 Funza Lushaka application 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.