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

It provides monetary help to qualified students who wish to pursue a teaching qualification in areas which might be significant for the education and learning sector.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is built to boost educating to be a profession by funding college 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**: Have to be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. **Study Requirements**: Should intend to enroll or currently be enrolled in a full-time teaching qualification (BEd or PGCE) in a regarded South African university.
3. **Educational Performance**:
- First-time university entrants needs to have an admission point rating (APS) that qualifies them for admission into a teaching qualification.
- Returning students should display satisfactory educational general performance.
4. **Field of Study**: Will have to plan to teach in a very priority subject area as identified because of the Department of Basic Education.
5. **Commitment to Educating**: Applicants must display a determination to teaching and an idea of its value in society.
6. **Age**: Applicants should not be older than 30 years after they apply.

*** Application Procedure With the Funza Lushaka Bursary:

1. ** Online Application**:
- Applications are submitted on-line from the Formal Funza Lushaka bursary system (on the Department of Basic Education's dedicated Internet site for Funza Lushaka).
- The application window normally opens towards the tip with the academic calendar year and closes early the following year (typically 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 applying goes via a selection procedure dependant on the necessity for teachers in certain subjects and places.

***Exactly what does The Bursary Cover?:
The bursary covers the following expenses:
- Tuition service fees
- Accommodation and foods
- Textbooks and learning resources
- A small stipend here 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.