Funza Lushaka Bursary 2024: Financial Assistance for Students Pursuing Teaching Qualification

About the Funza Lushaka Bursary 2024
The Funza Lushaka Bursary is an opportunity granted towards young academically-driven students who are aiming to become professional teachers in the future. The bursaries are conducted on a multi-year scheme to help boost selected awardees in gaining their respective teaching qualifications. The establishment believes that by accommodating bursary schemes, the current generation of teaching students will be even more motivated to learn and develop themselves as they become the educators of tomorrow. Awardees of the bursary are expected to spend the years they were under the financial assistance into teaching at an accredited public school.

The Funza Lushaka Bursary is offered for two kinds of qualifications. Each qualification should have subjects that are relevant to the field of teaching, and prioritize two subject areas. Kindly take a look below to see what qualifications are supported by the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
1. Undergraduate Qualification

  • Pursuing a 4-year Degree in Bachelor of Education (BEd)
  • Concentrating in:
    • Foundation Phase (Grade R-3)
    • Intermediate Phase (Grade 4-6)
    • Senior and Further Education and Training Teaching (Grade 7-12)

2. Graduate Qualification

  • Pursuing a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
  • Your degrees must contain two priority subjects:
    • One module/course should be completed or pursued during your third year of studies
    • Your second module/course should be completed or pursued during your second year of studies.

Note: only students who are pursuing their PGCE (Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching) (Grade 7-12) will be provided with financial assistance through the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme.

The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme is provided on an annual basis (once every academic year). Renewal of the bursary is possible, but it is not done automatic. Awardees will need to maintain their impressive academic progress to be granted renewal.

Additionally, students who are planning to pursued a fifth year of their qualification (or above 4th year) will not be promised the bursary scheme. Renewal will also depend on the programme’s availability of funds during the current academic year.

Bursary Coverage
The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme provides extensive coverage for a number of student-related expenses. The coverage consists of financial assistance for an awardee’s tuition expenses, accommodation costs, daily meals, prescribed study material, teaching practice resources, and a monthly allowance (if the funds are still available).

Any provided financial assistance is offered at a specific value that has been set by the establishment. Should their respective university charge more than the value that has been agreed upon by the bursary, the extra expenses becomes the responsibility of the awardee. This is something to take note of, especially since different universities have their own respective rates and are never the same.

Bursary Repayment
As previously mentioned, awardees of the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme must allocated the number of years they were under the bursary to teach in an accredited public school.

To repay the bursary, you will need to pay the full amount of the bursary with every year spent teaching at the institution. There will also be interest included, with the rate set by NSFAS.

Eligibility Criteria
Interested candidates of the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme must fulfill a series of eligibility criteria to prove they are qualified for the financial assistance. Each of these items will be assessed by the selection committee to see if the candidate is the ideal choice. To guarantee a successful application, it is encouraged that you meet these requirements below. Failure to do so might put your applications in a risky position. Be sure to take note of everything in this list below for future reference.

The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme Eligibility Criteria are as follows:
1. General Requirements

  • Officially recognized as a legitimate citizen of South Africa (possess a South African ID number)
  • Possess an impressive academic track record
  • Does not exceed 30 years old during the bursary programme
  • Must be pursuing either one of the aforementioned educational qualification
  • Shows passion and commitments towards the field of teaching
  • Enthusiastic in building a professional teaching career path
  • Displays a high level of integrity
  • Prepared to teach in any accredited school as assigned by the Provincial Education Department.

2. Academic Criteria (1st Time University Entrants)

  • Officially admitted into a Bachelor Degree Studies course at Matric/Grade 12 level
  • Has attained a Level 4 pass for their Matric with 2 subjects of their specialization
  • If you plan on focusing on Foundation Phase, you will need:
    • A Level 4 pass for Mathematics or a Level 5 pass for Mathematical Literacy in Grade 12
    • A Level 4 pass in Home Language
  • If you plan on focusing on Technology subjects (including CAT), you will need:
    • A Level 4 pass in either Mathematics or Technical Mathematics.

3. Academic Criteria (New Candidates Already at University)

  • Has attained a passing grade for all their previous modules
  • Achieved a minimum 55% average aggregate score for all their modules (including teaching specialization subjects).

4. Academic Criteria (New Candidates Applying for PGCE)

  • Has completed all qualifications that are relevant to PGCE
  • Your degrees must contain two priority subjects:
  • One module/course should be completed or pursued during your third year of studies
  • Your second module/course should be completed or pursued during your second year of studies.

Application Instructions
Apply online: Funza Lushaka Bursary 2024.

To apply for the Funza Lushaka Bursary, candidates must already have their valid student number and have been successfully enrolled into their desired university.

On top of the personal information you must provide, candidates must also upload several important documents to support your applications.

Your application should accurately reflect your current conditions. Make sure that your priority subject areas truly represent your specializations.

Please be kindly informed that candidates are not allowed to change their institutions after making their application submissions. Candidates found to be doing so will automatically be disqualified from the registration procedure.

Closing Date
Applications for the Funza Lushuka Bursary Programme must be submitted before the closing date on 02 February 2024.

Please be advised that the selection committee has absolute zero tolerance towards late applications. Candidates discovered to be making their submissions past the deadlines will not be acknowledged by the selection committee.

Important Notes

  • Fulfilling the requirements does not automatically guarantee you an accepted bursary applications
  • There are a limited number of bursary opportunities available for students who deem qualified enough for the programme
  • Selected bursars are required to sign a bursary contract that will legally bind them together with the conditions of the bursary programme
  • Candidates who have a previous track record that has to do with criminal misconduct or dismissals from work are strictly disallowed from joining this programme
  • Candidates who are dependents or children of employees, or whose spouses are employees of Higher Education Institutions are strictly disallowed from joining this programme
  • All applications must be processed through online platforms – the selection committee will not be accepting hard copies
  • Candidates who already possess teaching qualifications are not allowed to join this programme.

Committee Details
Should you have any general enquiries regarding the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme, you are more than welcome to reach out to your universities’ administrative coordinators. Candidates are strictly disallowed from establishing any communications directly with the NSFAS, or with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) or the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The selection committee does not tolerate any in-person walk-ins. Instead, you can reach out to them through the provided contact information below:
Telephone Number: +27 12 357 3000
E-mail Address: [email protected]

14 Comments

  1. This is a mickey mouse qualification. No wonder the pupils can;t read and write, they have been taught by mickey mouse teachers….

  2. I would lime to be one of the stundents fir Fundza lushaka I’m interested in teaching it has been my heart desire ever since i was at my primary level

  3. Hi I would like to apply for funza Lusaka I would really like to be a teacher
    Thanks
    Best regards
    r.m

    1. To whom it may concern.

      Hi,I am a 19 year old .I studied B(Ed) in Intermediate phase teaching , but couldn’t further due to financial problems.
      I would like to apply for the funza lushaka bursary , I am really interested in teaching intermediate phase learners.

      Best Regards.

  4. Hi I would like to apply for funza Lusaka I would really like to be teacher
    Thanks
    Best regards
    r.m

    1. I am Amogelang Ntakaile i’ve passed my matric with diploma so my mathematics level is 2 then the other subjects are level 3,4,5,6 so i don’t know if i qualify for it

  5. I Mogano Dimakatso Lettie would like to apply for a bursary. I’m corresponding with SANTS Higher Learning Private institution doing BEd in foundation phase next year I will be doing third year.im having financial problems.

  6. To Whom it may concern.
    I am Cindy I am 19 years old
    I really want to study but I don’t have the funds to do so,I have alway had a passion for teaching and have finally decided to pursue my lifelong dream. I kindly ask that you consider me for a bursary
    Kind regards
    Cindy vd Merwe

  7. I would like to apply for funza lushaka, in order to obtain a bachelor’s degree in teaching.

  8. Hi

    I just want to know about this growing AGE DISCRIMINATION thing. Have you ever thought how many people does it leave hopeless???

Leave a Reply to Bonginkosi Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button