Funza Lushaka 2023 Bursary Programme

What is the Funza Lushaka Bursary?

There are a large number of bursary options available for students in South Africa.

 

Most bursaries are specific in nature, like how some only offer bursaries for Finance students while others only offer Engineering bursaries. The Funza Lushaka Bursary falls under a similar category as it’s a programme dedicated to promote teaching as a medium.

 

Formed in 2007, the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme is available to students who look to pursue and complete an Education qualification at a recognized tertiary educational institution.

 

Recipients of the bursary will have to teach at a public school of the Provincial Education Department’s (PED) choice upon completion of their qualification. Recipients of the bursary will have to teach at a public school at a length of time equivalent to the length of time covered by the bursary.

 

For example, students who were funded for 5 years would have to teach in a public school of the bursar’s choice for 5 years.  Should a PED not have a teaching position available for graduates, the graduate may be placed in a PED that has a suitable open teaching post.

 

 

What Does the Bursary Cover?

The Funza Lushaka Bursary covers the following amenities regarding student expenses:

 

• Tuition;
• Accommodation;
• Meals, books, and study materials.

Additionally, students will receive a monthly allowance for additional living expenses. Allocations are capped at a specific value to each individual student.

 

However, the capped value differs for each individual depending on which tertiary institution they attend.

 

This would mean, for example, a funded student who attends UNISA has a different funding scale to a student who attends UCT or Wits University. Each university in South Africa has different cost structures in place and as a result, students will not always receive similar funding.

 

Who Qualifies for a Funza Lushaka Bursary?

Funding’s prioritized to students studying/applying to study for the following Education qualifications:

 

• A 4-year Bachelor of Education (BEd) qualification (Foundation, Intermediate, or Senior/FET); or
• A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) qualification.

Some universities offer qualifications that combine specialization in the Foundation and Intermediate Phase, the Intermediate and Senior Phase, or the Senior and FET Phase.

 

Students who are seeking to make a career change or an unemployed person looking to become a teacher can also apply. Additionally, applicants for the bursary programme has to be:

 

• Aged 30 or under;
• South African citizens with a valid SA ID number and should have good academic ability;
• Not have a criminal record.
• Accepted to study into an approved BEd or PGCE programme; and
• Committed to pursuing a career in teaching.

Students that obtain admission to the qualification of their choice are able to apply for the bursary here. Funded students will have to reapply annually to continue being funded by the bursar.

 

Step-by-Step Guide on Applying for the Bursary

Applying for the Funza Lushaka Bursary is as easy as opening up a jar of pickles (if you’re a returning applicant). For first-time applicants, you need to follow these 9 easy steps:

 

1. Visit and log into the Funza Lushaka website.
2. Open the e-Gov e-Services portal.
3. Register on the e-Gov portal by providing your personal information.
4. Once completed with registration, login onto the system via your registered login details.
5. Select the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme from the e-Services menu.
6. Enter the OTP received on the preferred channel.
7. Accept the Terms and Conditions.
8. On the dashboard menu, click the 2023 application button.
9. Follow the appropriate steps to complete the required field with your information.
10. Accept the declaration to confirm and complete your bursary application.

And then the waiting game begins.

 

 

Criteria for the Funza Lushaka 2023 Bursary

There is naturally a criterion that potential applicants have to meet in order to stand a chance of being awarded a Funza Lushaka bursary.

 

Undergraduate Degrees

For first-time applicants of the Funza Lushaka bursary, students will need to meet the following criteria:

 

For First-Time Applicants

 

• An exemption, endorsement, or ‘admission to bachelor degree studies’ pass at Grade 12 level.
• Possess at least a Level 4 pass at Matric level in the two subjects which the applicant will specialise in.
• A Level 2 pass in Mathematics or Level 4 pass in Mathematical Literacy at Grade 12 level is required for students looking to study BEd: Foundation Phase. Also, at least a level 4 pass in the Home Language is necessary.
• For students who wish to specialise in the Intermediate Phase, a Level 4 pass in Mathematics and a level 4 in a Home Language subject and/or a Level 4 pass in Science Subjects at Grade 12 level is required. Also, at least a level 4 pass in the Home Language is necessary
• Students who wish to specialize in the teaching of Technology subjects, including CAT, IT, and other Technical stream subjects and who do not have these subjects at matric level, must have at least a level 4 pass in Mathematics or Technical Mathematics.
• If the institution’s admission requirements are higher than the bursary requirement and vice versa, then the higher requirement will apply.

For New Applicants Already At University/College:

 

Students already studying at a tertiary institution, looking to apply need to match the following requirements:

 

• Students must have passed all of the modules studied in the year prior to the bursary application at the Higher Education Institution (HEI).
• Must have at least a 55% average across all the modules studied in the applicant’s last year of study at a HEI.
• Must have at least a 66. 6% average in modules studied or taken as majors
  in the applicant’s last year of study at university which relate directly to the priority subject area of teaching specialisation.

These are the minimum criteria that have to be met in order for the bursary to be awarded to students.  The criteria may be higher at certain HEIs than suggested but not lowered.

 

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

Regarding PGCE, new applicants will have to meet the following admission requirements:

 

• Have an existing and recognized undergraduate qualification that qualifies a student to do a PGCE;
• Only the PGCE Senior Phase and FET Teaching  (Grade 7-12) will be funded through the bursary scheme.
• To be considered for the PGCE in Senior Phase and FET teaching, the student must have two priority subjects where one module/course was successfully completed or studied at third year level while the second priority subject was successfully completed or studied at second year level.
• The student must have sufficient modules in the identified priority subjects to qualify to teach it as a subject at school.

 

This is the absolute minimum criteria applicants have to match in order to be under consideration. Note that the Funza Lushaka Bursary will first and foremost award bursaries based on academic ability.

 

Funza Lushaka Repayments

 

The bursary is only awarded for one academic year at a time. It does not automatically renew but instead, being re-awarded the bursary is dependent on academic performance on the previous year’s results.

 

Furthermore, no automatic promise will be made of financial support for a 5th year of study (as the bursary only counts the actual minimum time-frame it takes to complete a BEd programme). In this circumstance, the bursary may only be awarded to students who are looking to go beyond their 4th year via good academic performance and availability of funds.

 

There is no repayment of bursaries that is required. Instead, bursars will have to teach at a public school for the same number of years that they were receiving the bursary.

 

Failure to adhere to the repayment conditions will result in the bursary having to pay the full amount that they have received under the programme. The repayment interest rate will be the same as determined by NSFAS.

 

 

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Students can enquire about the Funza Lushaka 2023 Bursary Programme via the following contact details:

 

Tel: 012 357 3000
Email: [email protected]

 

Also Read: NSFAS Applications for 2023
Also Read: Alternative Bursaries and Scholarships

 

Last Updated: 19 March 2023