The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of capable teachers within the country.

It provides financial aid to suitable students who wish to go after a teaching qualification in locations that are critical for the education and learning sector.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is created to promote educating for a occupation by funding students to study for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain 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**: Needs to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must plan to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a acknowledged South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants have to have an admission point score (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students have to present satisfactory educational overall performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to intend to educate in a priority subject area as determined by the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants have to reveal a dedication to teaching and an comprehension of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years once they apply.

*** Application Process For your Funza Lushaka Bursary:

1. ** On the web Application**:
- Applications are submitted on line through the official Funza Lushaka bursary method (within the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window normally opens towards the top of your academic calendar year and closes early the subsequent calendar year (normally November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are required.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes through a range course of action dependant on the necessity for teachers in specific subjects and .

***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the subsequent expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and Funza bursary studying elements
- 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 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.