Funza offers 3 500 bursaries

THE Department of Basic Education is offering 3 500 Funza Lushaka bursaries for new prospective teachers.

The Department estimates that 13 500 bursaries will be available for the 2018 academic year – of which about 10 000 will be awarded to existing bursary holders at universities.

The budget has also increased slightly to R1 159 348 000, from R1 095 792 000 in 2017.

Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said about 5 000 Funza Lushaka graduates will be eligible for placement next year.

“The number may change based on the final result notifications received from universities,” Mhlanga said.

The bursary scheme is to enable eligible students to complete a teaching qualification.

After graduation recipients of the bursaries are required to teach at a public school.

Last month the North Gauteng High Court ruled in favour of the department for the bursary scheme to ensure the availability of an increasing number of indigenous language teachers.

Trade union Solidarity had taken the department to court over the bursary criteria, saying it discriminated against non-indigenous language speaking students.

The court also found that Solidarity had failed to establish discrimination on the basis of section 9(2) or (3) of the constitution. – Staff Writer