Funza Lushaka

The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme is a multi-year programme that promotes teaching in public schools. Bursaries are available to enable eligible students to complete a full teaching qualification in an area of national priority. Recipients of the bursary will be required to teach at a public school for the same number of years that they receive the bursary. Qualified recipients of the bursary can apply for appropriate public school positions with the provincial education department (PED) of their choice. The PED concerned will determine whether there is a suitable post available. If there is not, the applicant will be offered employment in a PED that does have suitable vacancies.

Admission criteria

The bursary is only awarded to South African citizens. Applications will not be considered unless the applicant has a valid South African ID number. Applicants for the bursary must already have been accepted into an appropriate study programme at a recognized higher education institution. Applicants also need to meet certain admission criteria of the institution and they must also meet the national selection criteria for the Funza Lushaka bursary.

Selection criteria include the following:

• The applicant’s academic ability;
• Eligibility for an approved degree or PGCE in two of the priority areas;
• Commitment to a teaching career, which includes: interest in working with young people; enthusiasm for a professional career in teaching; readiness to face and surmount difficult challenges and personal integrity;
• Commitment to teach in any school to which a student may be appointed by a PED.

Everything else being equal, selection should favour candidates from rural areas, candidates who wish to teach in rural areas and candidates whose financial position would otherwise exclude them from enrolment for a teaching qualification. The bursary will only be awarded if two of the priority area specialization subjects are included as a teaching subject in your qualification.

Please note that those who already have other teaching qualifications do not qualify for this programme.