1. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) wishes to announce the availability of 66 extraordinary district-based Funza Lushaka Bursaries for the 2017 academic year to Grade 12 learners who intend studying towards a formal teaching qualification.

2. The 2030 National Development Plan recommends that new educators be attracted to the profession and states that "bursary programmes for continuing professional development can improve the quality of teaching and help to attract and retain teachers".

3. The national Department of Basic Education’s (DBE’s) Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme provides high-achieving learners with a full-cost bursary that covers tuition fees, accommodation with meals, a textbook allowance, notes and laboratory fees (where applicable), and a monthly stipend to cover basic living expenses.

4. The Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme is a multi-year programme that was launched in 2007 to promote teaching in public schools as the career of choice for able and committed South Africans. The programme is run locally at the University of the Western Cape, the University of Stellenbosch and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

5. In 2012 the DBE introduced a district-based recruitment programme targeting learners from poor communities to help them access the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme. The WCED will, therefore, award these 66 extraordinary bursaries only to students who are willing to teach at schools in rural areas, taking into account the needs of the rural education districts.

6. The awarding of a Funza Lushaka Bursary is subject to the following conditions:

  1. The programme will fund students who wish to specialise in the Foundation Phase (Grades 1 to 3) or who intend to study for a BEd degree, specialising in Hospitality Studies, Economics, Accounting, Consumer Studies, Mathematics, Science and/or technical subjects.
  2. The bursary is awarded for one academic year at a time and, upon proof of academic success, may be renewed each year until the recipient of the bursary has qualified as an educator.
  3. The bursary holder will be required to reapply by the end of October each year for the following year.
  4. On completion of the course of study, the bursary holder will be required to teach at a school in a rural area for a period of one year for every year for which they have received a bursary.
  5. A copy of the applicant’s 2015 Grade 11 results must be submitted with the initial application.
7. Furthermore, prospective applicants must apply for admission and must meet the admission requirements of the various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) named in paragraph 4 above. The bursaries will be awarded on merit by the selection committee at the WCED Head Office in Cape Town, based on the following minimum academic criteria:

  1. An "admission to Bachelor’s degree studies" pass at Grade 12 level.
  2. At least a Level 4 pass, or at least a 60% pass on the standard grade or a 50% pass on the higher grade at matric level in the subject which leads on to the priority area/subject in which the applicant will specialise in the BEd course.
  3. Students who wish to specialise in the Foundation Phase must achieve a pass in Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy at Grade 12 level. In addition, a Level 4 or 60% pass on the standard grade or 50% on the higher grade in the Home Language is required.
  4. Students who wish to specialise in the teaching of technology subjects, including Computer Applications Technology, and who do not have these subjects at matric level, must have a pass in Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy.
8. The closing date for the applications is 29 July 2016. Applicants must apply by completing the attached application form and all completed applications must be delivered to the relevant district office.

The following officials at the WCED Head Office can be contacted for any enquiries regarding this matter:
9. Kindly bring the contents of this minute to the attention of your school's Grade 12 learners.


SIGNED: PA VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2016:05:04

Annexure A: Educator Bursary Application Form  (size: 74 KB)
Important notice  (size: 59 KB)