The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing the scarcity of qualified teachers in the country.

It provides financial help to eligible students who want to go after a teaching qualification in areas which can be significant for that schooling sector.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to promote educating to be a profession by funding university students to study to get a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The bursary covers fields with a certain shortage of teachers, including:

- 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**: Must 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. **Academic Performance**:
- First-time university entrants need to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission right into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students must exhibit satisfactory educational efficiency.
4. **Field of Study**: Ought to plan to educate in a priority subject area as identified through the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Teaching**: Applicants will have to check here reveal a commitment to teaching and an comprehension of its importance in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants shouldn't be older than 30 years once they apply.

*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:

1. ** On-line Application**:
- Applications are submitted online through the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary process (about the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Web site for Funza Lushaka).
- The applying window generally opens towards the end from the academic year and closes early the next calendar year (usually November to January).
2. **Documentation**:
- Certified copies of ID, educational results, and evidence of university registration are necessary.
3. **Selection Process**:
- Preference is given to applicants from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The application goes through a range approach based upon the need for teachers in specific subjects and places.

***What Does The Bursary Include?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Publications and studying components
- A little stipend for other living costs

***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.