Funza Lushaka Bursary 2024 – How to Apply

The Funza Lushaka bursary has started accepting applications for the 2024 academic year, so if you are a university/college student needing financial aid, you need to start preparing to apply for this bursary programme.

This article will assist you in preparing your application by providing you with information about the Funza Lushaka bursary, its eligibility requirements, and how you can apply for it.

About Funza Lushaka Bursary

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) in South Africa created the Funza Lushaka bursary. This bursary is a multi-year programme made to promote teaching as a profession. Bursaries are available to enable selected students to complete a teaching qualification in identified Subject priority areas. Recipients of these bursaries will be required to teach at a public school for the same number of years that they received the bursary.

The Funza Lushaka Bursary will cover the following expenses: tuition fees, books, study materials, lodging, meals, teaching practice, and allowance for general living expenses. The bursary only covers one academic year, so recipients must reapply every year and it will be renewed based on your academic progress.

Eligible Courses

For you to be deemed eligible for the Funza Lushaka Bursary, you must be currently studying towards one of the following qualifications:

Undergraduate studies: a 4-year Bachelor of Education degree (BEd), which specialises in any of the following: Foundation Phase (Grade R to Grade 3), Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 to Grade 6) or Senior and Further Education and Training Teaching (Grade 7 to Grade 12).

Graduate studies: a 1-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) for graduates pursuing degrees with two priority subjects (1 module or course must have been completed or studied at 3rd year level, 1 priority subject must have been completed or studied at 2nd year level). Only the PGCE for Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching (SPFET) (Grade 7 to Grade 12) will be funded.

Eligibility Requirements

Before you begin your applications for the Funza Lushaka Bursary, make sure you have satisfies the following requirements:

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must have a valid South African ID number
• You must be 30 years old or younger, if applying for the first time
• You must have been accepted to study towards a BEd degree or PGCE programme, specialising in at least 2 of the priority subject areas (extended programmes are not covered)
• You must have been accepted to study at a public university in South Africa
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must be willing to teach at any school, as selected by the Provincial Education Department (PED)
• You must NOT be a Higher Education Institution employees (or a spouse, dependent or child of a Higher Education Institution employee)
• You must be committed and passionate about a career in teaching, including having an interest in working with youth; enthusiasm for teaching; and be willing and ready to face challenges with integrity
• You must NOT have any other teaching qualifications
• You must NOT have a criminal record
• You must NOT have any charges of misconduct
• You must NOT have been dismissed from work

Eligibility Requirements for First Timers

If you are just entering university, you must also satisfy the following requirements:

• You must have passed Matric with an exemption, endorsement or bachelor degree admission
• Must have achieved a minimum of level 4 in Matric for 2 subjects you intend on specialising to teach
• Students who will specialising in Foundation Phase: you must have achieved a minimum level 2 pass for Mathematics OR or level 4 pass for Mathematical Literacy in Matric, AND a minimum of level 4 for your Home Language
• Students who will specialising in Intermediate Phase: you must have achieved a minimum level 2 pass for Mathematics OR or level 4 pass for Mathematical Literacy in Matric, AND a minimum of level 4 for your Home Language
• Students who will specialise in teaching Technology subjects (including CAT, IT), who did not pass these subjects in Matric: you must have achieved a minimum level 4 for Mathematics or Technical Mathematics in Matric

Note: if the university’s entry requirements are higher than the bursary requirements, or vice versa, the higher requirement will apply.

Eligibility Requirements for New Students

If you are a currently new student at the university, you must also satisfy the following requirements:

• You must have passed all subjects in past year of tertiary study
• You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 55%, for all subjects studied in last year of tertiary study
• You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 66.5% for subjects related to the teaching area of specialisation in last year of tertiary study

Eligibility Requirements for Students Enrolling for PGCE

If you are just enrolling for PGCE, you must also satify the following requirements:

1. You must have completed a qualification that allows admission into the PGCE programme
2. You must be studying towards the PGCE for Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching (SPFET) (Grade 7 to Grade 12)
3. You must have 2 priority subjects with 1 module successfully completed at third year level, and 1 module successfully completed at second year level
4. You must have sufficient modules in the priority subjects in order to qualify to teach it as a subject at school

How to Apply for the Funza Lushaka Bursary

Once you are sure you can meet up with the requirements above, you can proceed to apply for this bursary. Follow the steps below to apply:

1. Visit the e-Government Portal website
2. Register an account by filling in your required personal details
3. Login using your selected username and password
4. Select the “Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme” on the e-Services Menu
5. Insert the OTP you received
6. Read and accept the Terms and Conditions
7. Click on the “2024 application” button on the dashboard
8. Fill in the required information
9. Read and accept the declaration to confirm your information

Funza Lushaka Bursary Opening and Closing Date

The appplications for the 2024 academic year opened on 4th October 2023 and will close on 12th January 2024. Once the exact opening date is announced, This article will be updated.

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