Will Funza Lushaka Bursary Fund TVET Students?

The Funza Lushaka bursary programme is designed to boost recruitment into teaching, especially in priority subject areas. Will this bursary cover students who are studying at one of South Africa's TVET Colleges though? Read more to find out.

The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme is a multi-year programme to promote teaching as a profession. If you're a TVET student or you're planning to be one and you're wondering whether they will fund you, here's the answer.

The Funza Lushaka bursary programme is designed to boost recruitment into teaching, especially in priority subject areas.

One of the requirements for this busary is: 

Bursary applicants must already have been accepted into a either BEd or PGCE qualification at an at an accredited public University.

From this, we then know that this bursary does not fund TVET students.

The full criteria for anyone wanting to apply for the bursary is as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

Any academically gifted, young –

• learners, currently in Grade 12;
• graduates who want to complete a teaching qualification (enroll for a PGCE);
• people who want to make a career change and become teachers; and
• unemployed people who want to become teachers.

Selection Criteria

• The bursary is only awarded to South African citizens with a valid South African ID number.
• Allocation of Funza Lushaka bursaries to Higher Education Institution employees, their spouse and their dependents/children is not permissible.
• Bursary applicants must already have been accepted into a either BEd or PGCE qualification at an at an accredited public University.
• The applicant must also meet the national selection criteria for the Funza Lushaka bursary.
• The bursary will only be awarded if two of the priority area subjects are included as a specialisation in the teaching qualification.
• The applicant should demonstrate good academic ability.
• The applicant must show commitment to a teaching career, which includes: interest in working with young people; enthusiasm for a professional career in teaching; readiness to face and surmount difficult challenges and personal integrity.
• The applicant must be committed to teach at any school which they may be appointed to by a provincial education deparrment (PED). 

Those who have other teaching qualifications do not qualify for this bursary programme.  

Visit the Funza Lushaka Bursary website for more information.