The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African govt initiative aimed at addressing the lack of qualified teachers during the country.

It offers financial guidance to eligible students who wish to go after a teaching qualification in areas which are significant to the education and learning sector.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is intended to promote teaching for a profession by funding students to study for any Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a particular scarcity of teachers, which include:

- 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**: Have to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to present satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to plan to educate in a priority subject area as recognized with the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must show a dedication to educating and an comprehension of its great importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants really should not be older than 30 years once they apply.

*** Application Process For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:

1. ** On the net Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line through the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window usually opens towards the end of your academic 12 months and closes early the subsequent calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, Funza and proof of university registration are needed.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes through a range system based on the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and locations.

***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition charges
- Accommodation and meals
- Guides and studying components
- A small 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 more info 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.