The Department of Basic Education oversees adult literacy initiatives in all South African schools from grades R through 12. Prior to its division into the DBE (Department of Basic Education) and DHE (Department of Higher Education), the DBE was a member of the National Department of Education. Read through to get information on Funza Lushaka.
Field Covered by the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme
The Department of Education is calling potential students to apply for the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme, for the 2024 academic year. Every year, they award the Funza Lushaka Bursary to students towards the following Teaching qualifications:
Undergraduate studies: a 4-year Bachelor of Education degree (BEd), which specialises in any of the:
- Foundation Phase (Grade R to Grade 3) (preferably majoring in South African Indigenous Languages, Neurodevelopment Needs, Braille, SASL)
- Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 to Grade 6) (preferably majoring in 2 of these subjects: Languages, Mathematics, and Natural Science & Technology)
- Senior and Further Education and Training Teaching (Grade 7 to Grade 12) (preferably majoring in 2 of these subjects: Accounting, Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Technology, Civil Technology, Computer Applications Technology, Electrical Technology, Engineering Graphics and Design, Geography, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Mechanical Technology, Physical Sciences, Languages, Maritime studies, Coding and Robotics, Technical Mathematics and Technical Science)
Graduate studies: a 1-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) for:
- Senior and Further Education and Training Teaching (Grade 7 to Grade 12)
The prestigious Funza Lushaka bursary is aimed at students who are studying to become teachers and is awarded annually, based on academic ability.
More About the Funza Lushake Bursary Programme
The bursary offers: tuition fees, books, study materials, accommodation, meals, teaching practice and an allowance for welfare expenses, if available and capped at a certain amount.
Bursaries are awarded for 1 academic year at a time and students are required to reapply for funding each year. Renewal of the bursary is NOT guaranteed but depends on students’ academic performance.
After graduation, bursary recipients will be required to teach at a public school (selected by the Provincial Education Department (PED))–the service contract duration will be equal to the duration of bursary funding received.
Eligibility Requirements For the Funza Lushake Bursary
To apply, Applicants must meet the following minimum entry requirements before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):
All applicants must meet the following criteria:
- 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
- They have accepted you to study towards a BEd degree or PGCE programme, specialising in at least 2 of the priority subject areas (extended programmes are not covered)
- They have accepted you to study at a public university in South Africa
- You must have a strong academic record
- You must teach at any school, as selected by the Provincial Education Department (PED)
- You must NOT be a Higher Education Institution employee (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 being 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
How Do You Apply For the Funza Lushaka Bursary?
Applicants must submit applications online at Funza Lushaka Bursary Application 2024. They must follow these steps to submit their bursary application:
- Visit the e-Government Portal website
- Register an account by filling in your required personal details (after ticking the boxes to agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy of the e-Gov portal)
- Login using your selected username and password
- Select the “Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme” on the e-Services Menu
- Insert the OTP you received
- Read and accept the Terms and Conditions
- Click on the “2024 application” button on the dashboard
- Fill in the required information
- Read and accept the declaration to confirm your information