Table of Contents
Funza Lushaka Teaching Bursary Programme 2020
Information about the BursaryThe following must be read before making an application fora Funza Lushaka bursary for 2020
1. Should you have a criminal record, charged of misconduct or dismissed from work, kindly note that you are not eligible to apply for this bursary.
2. Allocation of Funza Lushaka bursaries to Higher Education Institution employees, their spouse and their dependents/children is not permissible.
3. Non-disclosure of the information required as stated in 2 above will be treated as fraud.
4.This online application is a MUST. No hard copies are accepted by the programme.
5. Printing of the completed on-line application is a MUST.
6. Please note that those who already have other teaching qualifications do not qualify for this programme. Programmes to be funded
7. Two types of qualifications can be funded. These are shown below. The qualification must include subjects which will allow the student to specialise as a teacher in at least two priority areas (see next section below).
Undergraduate studies
✓4-year Bachelor of Education degree (B Ed),
specialising in Foundation Phase (Grade R –3), Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 –6),
Senior Phase (Grade 7 –9) and FET Phase (Grade 10-12).
Graduate studies
✓One-year
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)for graduates whose degrees include
at least one major in one of the two priority subjects.
Take note that some universities offer qualifications which combine specialisation 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). These combined qualifications are also acceptable.
Admission criteria
8. Selection criteria include the following:
8.1. The bursary is only awarded to South African citizens with a valid South African ID number;
8.2. The applicant should demonstrate good academic ability;
29. Students must meet the minimum academic criteria for award of the bursary.
In 2020, the minimum academic criteria are:
9.1.For 1st time entrants to university:
9.1.1.An exemption, endorsement, or ‘admission to bachelor degree studies’ pass at matric/Grade 12 level.
9.1.2. At least a level 4 pass at matric level in the subject which the applicant will specialize to teach.
9.1.3. For students who wish to specialize in the Foundation Phase, a pass in Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy at Grade 12 level is required. In addition, at least a level 4 pass in the Home Language is required. If a student completed matric prior to 2008 when Mathematics was not compulsory, a student may still be considered based on an overall good performance (Average of at least 50%).
9.1.4. Students who wish to specialize in the teaching of Technology subjects, including CAT, and who do not have these subjects at matric level, must have at least a level 4pass in Mathematics.
9.1.5. If the institution’s admission requirements are higher than the bursary requirement and vice versa then the higher requirement will apply.
9.2. For new applicants already at university The student must have:
9.2.1. The student must have passed all of the modules studied in 2019or the last year of study at the Higher EducationInstitution.
9.2.2. At least a 55% average across all the modules studied in 2019 or in the applicant’s last year of study at a Higher Education Institution.
9.2.3. The student must have at least 55% average in modules studied in 2019or in the
applicant’s last year of study at university which relate directly to the priority area teaching specialization.
9.2.4. These are minimum criteria.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is a prestigious bursary that must be awarded firstly on the
basis of academic ability. The criteria applied at particular institutions may be higher than those suggested here, but cannot be lower.
9.3. For new applicants enrolling for PGCE
9.3.1. The student must have successfully completed a recognized qualification that qualifies him/her to be admitted for a PGCE
9.3.2. To be considered for a PGCE in Foundation Phase Teaching a student must have majored in Psychology and an African Language.
9.3.3. To be considered for PGCE in Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching the student must have majored in the subject he/she wishes to specialize in from the B. degree.
9.3.4. The student must have at least two identified priority subjects at second-year level;
9.3.5. The student must have sufficient modules in the identified priority subjects to qualify to teach it as a subject at school.
9.4. For existing bursars
9.4.1. The student must have passed at least two-thirds (66.6%) of all the subject modules studied in the last year of study at the university.
9.4.2. The student must have passed at least two-thirds (66.6%) of the priority subject
area modules studied in the last year of study at the Higher Education Institution.
9.4.3. If a student is doing one priority subject he/she must pass it to qualify for re-award;
9.4.4. The student must be progressing to the next level/year of study.
9.4.5. The students must achieve at least 50% average across all subject modules.
Applicants must note that these are minimum criteria.
Meeting these criteria does not mean automatic acceptance for the bursary. There
are a limited number of bursaries available, and the best students will be
selected for the bursary.
10. The bursary is awarded for one academic year at a time. It is not
automatically re-awarded. Re-award will depend on academic success. There is no
automatic promise of support for 4 years plus 1 more year. On evidence of
academic success, and pending the availability of funds, the bursary may be
renewed each year until the recipient of the bursary has qualified as a teacher.
Recipients of bursaries will be required to teach one year for every year for
which they receive a bursary.
11. What the bursary covers: Funza Lushaka bursaries cover most of
the recipient’s essential expenses. Expenses covered include tuition,
accommodation including meals, books and learning materials, and if possible a
small allowance for monthly living expenses. The allocation to any individual
student is capped at a specific value. Where the university charges more than the
capped value the bursars will have to top up from own funds. Universities have
different cost structures, so the total value of a bursary differs from
institution to institution.
Repayment
12. Recipients of these bursaries will be required to teach at a public school
for the same number of years that they received the bursary.
13. The amount that is repayable is the full amount of the bursary received
under the programme, less one year’s funding for every year spent teaching at a
public school. Interest will be charged at the rate determined by NSFAS.
14. If you are awarded or re-awarded the bursary you will be expected to have
an e-mail address and a contactable cell phone number for SMS purposes.
These conditions are all contained in the bursary contract which all applicants must
sign. When applicants sign the bursary contract, they are legally agreeing to
the conditions described in the contract. The applicants should keep a copy of
the signed contract for themselves. Process for applying for the bursar in 201919
Applications must only be made once students have been allocated a valid
student number and have been accepted/provisionally accepted at their university
of choice.
20. All applications must be made online at www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za.Take note of the closing date. No applications will be entertained after the closing date. Students must apply online and submit supporting documentation to the university.
21. After your application has been completed online, you will be prompted to
make a printout. This will serve as proof of your application. Keep a copy for
yourself, and submit a copy to the university where you have been accepted
and where you will be registering.
22. The copy submitted to the university must be accompanied by:
22.1. A certified copy of your ID.
22.2. A certified copy of your academic results. For 1st year students coming out of Grade 12, this will be a certified copy of your Grade 12 result notification or Grade 12 certificate. For students already at university, this will be a certified copy of your academic
transcript, which must include results for 2019or your last year of study at university.
23. If these documents are not submitted to the Coordinator at the university,
your application will not be considered during the bursary selection process.
24. Please ensure that all information that you capture is accurate, and that
priority areas that you capture are the ones you will specialize in. The
academic year of study refers to the level you are studying e.g. B Ed 1 = 1st
year, B Ed 3 = 3rd year.
25. Please note that you have access to your on-line bursary application to
“Update personal details” or make changes to your application before
applications close.
26. Students who change institutions after submitting their bursary application
forms will not be considered for selection.
27. Each University has a Financial Aid Office and a Funza Lushaka Bursary
Coordinator is there to assist you. The details for the contact person at
university is shown on the printout.
28. Having applied for the bursary is not a guarantee that a student will receive it.
Communications from students about the bursary
All enquiries about the bursary must be directed to the Funza Lushaka
academic and administrative co-ordinators at your university. They will be best
placed to respond to any issues. Students should not communicate directly with
NSFAS (the financial managers of the scheme) or with the Department of Basic
Education (DBE) or the Department of Higher Education and Training. Students may
not come in person to the DBE but should phone and enquire at 012357 3000
How to Apply
Apply Online for the Funza Lushaka Teaching Bursary / Scholarship Programme