Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme Application

About Funza Lushaka

The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme is a programme to support teaching studies and available to qualified students to complete a teaching degree in South Africa. Bursary recipients are then required to teach at public schools equivalent to the duration of the bursary received.

Funza Lushaka Bursary 2022 – 2023

Application for the Funza Lushaka teaching bursary must be done online each year.

Bursary recipients are required to teach at a public school they are assigned to and they cannot choose the school they are assigned since the assignment is according to priority.

The bursary amount given will cover most of the recipient’s necessary expenses that may include tuition fees, accommodation including meals, books and learning materials, and if possible a small allowance for monthly living expenses.

Important guidelines for the Online Application of Funza Lushaka Bursary 2022 – 2023:

• Applicants who have criminal record, have been charged with misconduct or are dismissed from work are not qualified
• Higher Education Institution employees and their immediate families are not accepted
• Online application is a MUST. No hard copies are accepted by the programme.
• Printing of the completed online application is a MUST.
• Anyone who already has other teaching qualifications do not qualify

Two types of qualifications can be funded are:

Undergraduate studies or a 4-year Bachelor of Education degree (B Ed), specializing in Foundation Phase (Grade R – 3), Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 – 6), Senior Phase (Grade 7 – 9) and FET Phase (Grade 10-12); and

Graduate studies or One-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Combined qualifications are also acceptable such as combine specialization in the Foundation Phase (Grade R – 3) and Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 – 6), or the Intermediate Phase and Senior Phase, or the Senior Phase (Grade 7 – 9) and FET Phase (Grade 10 –12).

The priority areas are:

Foundation Phase (i.e. Grades R-3) – Foundation Phase (with preference for African Languages)

Intermediate and Senior Phase (i.e. Grades 4-9) – Preference will be given for a teaching major in TWO of the following:

• Languages
• Mathematics
• Natural Science & Technology

FET phase (i.e. Grades 10-12) – Preference will be given for a teaching major in TWO of the following:

• Accounting
• Agricultural Sciences
• Agricultural Technology
• Civil Technology
• Computer Applications Technology
• Economics
• Electrical Technology
• Engineering Graphics and Design
• Geography
• Information Technology
• Life Sciences
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Technology
• Physical Sciences, Languages, Technical Mathematics and Technical Science

Bursary Requirements and Eligibility

In order to apply to the funza bursary online you should meet the below minimum entry requirements:

• South African citizen
• Good academic performance
• Graduates who want to complete a teaching degree or want to become teachers (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) and have already been accepted at an accredited public University.
• Applicants who want to make a career change and become teachers in this country, show dedication and passion for a professional career in teaching, display interest in working with young people, are ready to face and handle difficult challenges and have personal integrity.
• Higher Education Institution employees, their spouse and their dependents/children are not eligible.
• Two of the priority area subjects must be included as a specialisation in the teaching qualification.

For 1st time entrants to university:

• Proof of admission to bachelor’s degree studies pass at matric/Grade 12 level.
• Minimum level 4 rating at matric level in the subject which the applicant will specialize to teach.
• A pass in Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy at Grade 12 level and a minimum level 4 pass in the Home Language, for students who intend to specialize in the Foundation Phase
• Average of at least 50% for students who have completed matric prior to 2008 when Mathematics was not compulsory
• At least level 4 pass in Mathematics, for students who wish to specialize in the teaching of Technology subjects, including CAT, and who do not have these subjects at matric level

For new applicants already at university:

• Passed all of the modules studied in the last/most recent year of study at the Higher Education Institution
• Minimum 55% average across all the modules studied in the last/most recent year of study at a Higher Education Institution
• Minimum 55% average in modules studied relevant to the priority area teaching specialization in the last/most recent year of study at

For new applicants enrolling for PGCE:

• Successful completion of a recognized qualification to be admitted for a PGCE
• Must have majored in Psychology and an African Language for a PGCE in Foundation Phase Teaching
• Must have at least TWO recognized priority subjects at second-year level
• Must have adequate modules in the recognized priority subjects

For existing bursary holders:

• Passed at least two-thirds or 66.6% of all the subject modules studied in the last/most recent year of study at the university
• Passed at least two-thirds or 66.6% of the priority subject area modules studied in the last/most recent year of study at the Higher Education Institution
• Passed the priority subject
• Must be proceeding to the next level/year of study
• Must achieve at least 50% average across all subject modules

How to Apply and Application Details

1. Online application is a must
   
2. Go to the e-Gov portal at www.eservices.gov.za
   1. Register your online profile by providing your personal details (or login with your previous login details if you already have an account)
   2. Enter the OTP (One Time Pin) you will receive on your preferred channel to complete the process
   3. Once logged in, go to the e-Services menu and choose Funza Lushaka Bursary
   4. Accept the Funza Lushaka terms and conditions to proceed
   5. On the Dashboard menu, click on the 2022 Application button and follow the steps. completing all the required fields with accurate information.
   6. Accept the confirmation declaration and receive feedback on the status of the application through email.
      
3. Print the completed online application and submit it to the university where you are accepted and registered.
   
4. Accompany the application form with certified copies of your ID and your academic records:
   • Certified copy of Grade 12 result or certificate, for 1st-year students coming out of Grade 12
   • Certified copy of the latest academic transcript, for students already at university
     
5. Accompanying documents must be submitted to the applicant’s university coordinator, otherwise, the application will be rejected.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

• New applicants are advised to also pursue other funding opportunities such as .
• The outcome of the selection process will be available from the University no later than 30 April each year.
• Late applications will not be considered.
• Should applicants need to make changes in their application details, they have access to the online bursary application by going to “Update personal details”. Updating application details is only allowed before the application closing date. Changing institutions and areas of specialization will not be allowed and doing so will subject an application to rejection.
• Application for the bursary is not a guarantee that a student will obtain it.

Application Closing Date

First time applicants bursary deadline closing on 1st February 2022

Applications for the Funza Lushaka bursary for 2022 opened on 1st October 2021. 

Re-applications (for Existing/Returning Bursary Recipients): 29 November 2021

Contact Details

Please contact your university’s Funza Lushaka academic and administrative coordinators. Alternatively, you can also your provincial education department (PED) or contact the Department of Basic Education here:

Phone: 012 357 3000
Email: inquiries.funzalushaka@dbe.gov.za

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Are there any age limit for bursary application?

No, as long as the applicant is currently at least at Grade 12 and forward level.

Are Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) students accepted?

No. Bursaries are only offered to inexperienced teacher education students.

Can distance education and part-time students apply for a bursary?

Yes, provided they meet all other admission and application criteria.

Are beneficiaries of other funding eligible to apply for a Funza Lushaka bursary?

Yes, if they qualified and if the terms and conditions of the other bursary agreements allow.

How much is a Funza Lushaka bursary worth?

The total value of a bursary depends on the institution’s cost structures. Funza Lushaka bursaries will pay for the recipient’s necessary educational expenses.

What does the bursary cover?

Expenses paid for by the Funza Lushaka bursary include tuition, accommodation including meals, books and learning materials. A small living allowance for monthly expenses may also be provided, if possible. The funding allocation to the bursar holder is limited at a certain value. Other expenses that exceeds the capped bursary value should be shouldered by the recipient’s own funds.

Can bursaries be awarded for fewer than the number of years required to complete a multi-year programme?

Yes. Students already studying at a university of any level can be accepted for the bursary.

Can a student who has other funding from another source receive a Funza Lushaka bursary?

Yes, in the following conditions:

• Full-cost Funza Lushaka bursary requires students to forfeit other funding
• The terms and conditions of the other bursary agreement allows funding from multiple sources
• The Funza Lushaka bursary conditions for placement on completion of studies take priority

Can a student receive a bursary for an extra year of study?

Extension of bursary will only be allowed for students who wish to pursue the PGCE programme. Additional year of study for non-PGCE programme will only be considered on a case to case basis, otherwise, additional time required will be paid for by the student’s own expense.

Is the bursary renewable?

Yes, bursary is valid for only one academic year and should be renewed upon the recipient’s annual application and submission of satisfactory academic reports until completion of qualification as a teacher.

Will the recipient of a bursary be required to teach?

Yes, after completion of studies, successful applicants are required to teach for a period equivalent to bursary received. Each year of service will repay one full-time year of bursary-assisted studies.

Must the bursary be repaid?

Repayment of bursary will only be required if:

• The recipient fails to complete the studies
• The recipient cannot comply with minimum bursary conditions and requirement
• Student registers for a course of study that is not in a designated priority area
• Recipient fails to apply and take up a teaching post at a public school
• Recipient leaves a teaching post before the end of the contracted service period

How much must be repaid for the bursary?

The recipient as mentioned above, will be required to repay the full amount of the bursary received with accrued interest compounded monthly.

Are Funza Lushaka bursary recipients allowed a “gap year” or proceed to complete further studies immediately after qualifying?

No. Students must accept a teaching post immediately after qualifying. Bursary extension will not be given to a qualifying student.