Teaching is a widely popular and important profession in South Africa today; however, as with many fields, many students cannot pursue the profession due to a lack of funding for their studies. The Department of Education is attempting to increase access to the study of education and promote quality teachers in government schools. Therefore, the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme provided around 38,000 bursaries to prospective teachers in priority subjects or areas. The bursary is offered to students with good academic abilities year-by-year, with the condition that recipients teach at a state school once they are qualified.
To apply for this funding, students should first be sure that:
They have been accepted for one of the four years of a Bachelor of Education (Bed) or for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE); they are below 31 years of age; they are a South African citizen with a valid South African ID number; they have proficient academic ability; they are interested in or committed to working in the teaching field; they do not have a criminal record or record of misconduct professionally.
The application process follows nine steps that must be completed. (these have been extracted from the official website for the programme: http://www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za/)
- Enter www.eservices.gov.za in your web browser
- Register by providing personal information as prompted
- Select ‘Login’ and enter the username and password created in Step 2
- Find the e-Services Menu and select ‘Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme.’
- You will receive an OTP through email or SMS; enter it as prompted.
- Select ‘Accept’ on the Terms and Conditions
- Select the 2025 application button on the dashboard menu
- Fill in the required field with your information as prompted.
- Confirm the information that you have entered by accepting the declaration.
Once the applicant has been granted the bursary, the following expenses will be covered: tuition fees, accommodation, meals, resources such as books, teaching practice expenses, and a small stipend for living expenses where possible. The amount of money provided is limited. The student will be responsible for the extra costs if a particular institution charges more than that limit.
The student is also guaranteed work after their degree but must teach in a public school where a Provincial Education Department will place them for the same number of years they received the bursary. i.e. if they acquired the bursary for two years of their degree, they must teach in a public school for two years. Suppose the student completes their degree through distance learning or a part-time programme. In that case, they are still suitable for the bursary. It is not possible to utilise the Funza Lushaka bursary or another bursary.
More information is available through the Department of Education or at the Student Financial Aid Offices at your university. Best of luck!