The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative targeted at addressing the lack of capable teachers in the country.

It offers monetary support to eligible students who want to go after a teaching qualification in areas which have been important for your education sector.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is designed to encourage teaching for a occupation 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 shortage 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**: Need to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Must intend to enroll or presently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a recognized South African university.
3. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students will have to clearly show satisfactory educational performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Need to intend to educate in a priority subject area as identified from the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants ought to reveal a commitment to teaching and an knowledge of its relevance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years after they apply.

*** Application Process For that Funza Lushaka Bursary:

1. ** On the internet Application**:
- Applications are submitted on the web in the official Funza Lushaka bursary process (around the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web page for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the end from the academic 12 months and closes early the following year (commonly November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, academic results, and proof of university registration are expected.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is provided to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes as a result of a range process based upon the necessity for teachers in particular subjects and locations.

***What Does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition costs
- Accommodation and foods
- Guides and studying materials
- A small stipend for other living expenses

***Conditions for Working Back here 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.