The Funza Lushaka Bursary Program is a funding source for qualified students pursuing a teaching degree in South Africa. It only supports teaching studies. After receiving a bursary, participants are obligated to teach in public schools for the same amount of time.
Apply for the Funza Lushaka bursary must be done only online each year. Those who receive the Funza Lushake are expected or required to teach in the government public schools os, South Africa. They are assigned to and they cannot choose the school they are assigned to since the assignment is according to priority.
The bursary amount given will cover most of the recipient’s necessary expenses may include tuition fees, accommodation including meals, books and learning materials, and if possible a small allowance for monthly living expenses.
Do you wish to study or are already studying at a public university or TVET college and come from a family with an income of R350 000 or less, then apply for Nsfas. NSFAS is a government entity under the Department of Higher Education and Training established according to the NSFAS Act (Act 56 of 1999) to provide financial support to disadvantaged students who wish to further their studies at public universities or TVET colleges.
Nsfas And Funza Lushaka 2023-2024
Nsfas Application Date 2023: The 2023-2024 Nsfas application is currently open to all applicants, all interested applicants must submit their applications from the 2nd of November 2022 to the 7th of January 2023. All applications must be submitted within the application period.
Funza Lushaka 2023 Application Date: The application date open for the Funza Lushaka bursary for 2023 starts from the 1st of October 2022 and closes on the 1st of February 2023.
Who Does Not Qualify For Funza Lushaka Bursary In 2023
The following are categories of people who cannot apply for the Funza Lushaka bursaries:
Applicants who have a criminal record, have been charged with misconduct or are dismissed from work are not qualified
Higher Education Institution employees and their immediate families are not accepted
No hard copies are accepted by the programme. (Online application is a MUST).
Printing of the completed online application is a MUST.
Anyone who already has other teaching qualifications do not qualify
Who Does Not Qualify To Apply For The Nsfas Funds In 2023:
The following are categories of people who cannot apply for the Funza Lushaka bursaries:
Students that have completed a previous qualification.
Students with a combined household income of more than R350 000 per annum.
Students who have already applied, qualified and received funding. They are automatically funded for the duration of their studies provided they pass their modules and meet the academic requirements.
Foreign students (any student who is not a South African citizen).
What Qualifications Does The Funza Lushaka Bursary Funds
There are two main types of qualifications that the Funza Lushaka bursary funds:
Undergraduate studies:or a 4-year Bachelor of Education degree (B Ed), specializing in Foundation Phase (Grade R – 3), Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 – 6), Senior Phase (Grade 7 – 9) and FET Phase (Grade 10-12); and
Graduate studies: or One-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Combined qualifications are also acceptable such as combining specialization in the Foundation Phase (Grade R – 3) and Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 – 6), or the Intermediate Phase and Senior Phase, or the Senior Phase (Grade 7 – 9) and FET Phase (Grade 10 –12).
The areas of priority are:
Foundation Phase(i.e. Grades R-3) – Foundation Phase (with a preference for African Languages)
Intermediate and Senior Phase(i.e. Grades 4-9) – Preference will be given for a teaching major in TWO of the following:
Languages
Mathematics
Natural Science & Technology
FET phase (i.e. Grades 10-12) – Preference will be given for a teaching major in TWO of the following:
Accounting
Agricultural Sciences
Agricultural Technology
Civil Technology
Computer Applications Technology
Economics
Electrical Technology
Engineering Graphics and Design
Geography
Information Technology
Life Sciences
Mathematics
Mechanical Technology
Physical Sciences, Languages, Technical Mathematics and Technical Science
To apply for the Funza Lushaka bursaries for 2023-2024, applicants must have the following requirements:
South African citizen
Good academic performance
Graduates who want to complete a teaching degree or want to become teachers (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) have already been accepted at an accredited public University.
Applicants who want to make a career change and become teachers in this country, show dedication and passion for a professional career in teaching, display interest in working with young people, are ready to face and handle difficult challenges and have personal integrity.
Higher Education Institution employees, their spouse and their dependents/children are not eligible.
Two of the priority area subjects must be included as a specialisation in the teaching qualification.
Funza Lushaka Bursary Requirements For 1st Time Entrants To University:
Proof of admission to bachelor’s degree studies passes at matric/Grade 12 level.
Minimum level 4 rating at matric level in the subject which the applicant will specialize to teach.
A pass in Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy at Grade 12 level and a minimum level 4 pass in the Home Language, for students who intend to specialize in the Foundation Phase
Average of at least 50% for students who have completed matric prior to 2008 when Mathematics was not compulsory
At least level 4 pass in Mathematics, for students who wish to specialize in the teaching of Technology subjects, including CAT, and who do not have these subjects at a matric level
Funza Lushaka Bursary Requirements For new applicants already at university:
Passed all of the modules studied in the last/most recent year of study at the Higher Education Institution
Minimum 55% average across all the modules studied in the last/most recent year of study at a Higher Education Institution
Minimum 55% average in modules studied relevant to the priority area of teaching specialization in the last/most recent year of study at the university
Funza Lushaka Bursary Requirements For New Applicants Enrolling For PGCE:
Successful completion of a recognized qualification to be admitted for a PGCE
Must have majored in Psychology and an African Language for a PGCE in Foundation Phase Teaching
Must have at least TWO recognized priority subjects at the second-year level
Must have adequate modules in the recognized priority subjects
Funza Lushaka Bursary Requirements For Existing Bursary Holders:
Passed at least two-thirds or 66.6% of all the subject modules studied in the last/most recent year of study at the university
Passed at least two-thirds of 66.6% of the priority subject area modules studied in the last/most recent year of study at the Higher Education Institution
Passed the priority subject
Must be proceeding to the next level/year of study
Must achieve at least 50% average across all subject modules
Applicants applying for the Funza Lushaka bursary 2023, must follow the following process:
Online application is a must
Go to the e-Gov portal at www.eservices.gov.za
Register your online profile by providing your personal details (or log in with your previous login details if you already have an account)
Enter the OTP (One Time Pin) you will receive on your preferred channel to complete the process
Once logged in, go to the e-Services menu and choose Funza Lushaka Bursary
Accept the Funza Lushaka terms and conditions to proceed
On the Dashboard menu, click on the 2022 Application button and follow the steps. completing all the required fields with accurate information.
Accept the confirmation declaration and receive feedback on the status of the application through email.
Print the completed online application and submit it to the university where you are accepted and registered.
Accompany the application form with certified copies of your ID and your academic records:
Certified copy of Grade 12 result or certificate, for 1st-year students coming out of Grade 12
Certified copy of the latest academic transcript, for students already at university
Accompanying documents must be submitted to the applicant’s university coordinator, otherwise, the application will be rejected.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
New applicants are advised to also pursue other funding opportunities such as NSFAS.
The outcome of the selection process will be available from the University no later than 30 April each year.
Late applications will not be considered.
Should applicants need to make changes in their application details, they have access to the online bursary application by going to “Update personal details”. Updating application details is only allowed before the application closing date. Changing institutions and areas of specialization will not be allowed and doing so will subject an application to rejection.
Application for the bursary is not a guarantee that a student will obtain it.
Contact Details Of Funza Lushaka
Please contact your university’s Funza Lushaka academic and administrative coordinators. Alternatively, you can also your provincial education department (PED) or contact the Department of Basic Education here:
Phone: 012 357 3000
Email: inquiries.funzalushaka@dbe.gov.za
Contact Details Of Nsfas
For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact NSFAS directly:
Tel: 0860 067 327
Email: info@nsfas.org.za
Hope the information given has been helpful to you, leave your comments in the comments section. Better still you can visit the official website of NSFAS for more details.