Teaching is not a job, but a lifestyle. It will permeate your whole life and give you the opportunity to change lives with the right mix of chalk and challenges. As a teacher, your work and influence affects eternity, you will never be able to measure your influence or know its impact. Your learners will be the future leaders, astronauts and innovators who will create marvellous miracles, which will forever change the world and you, as the prospective teacher, would have been at the root of it all.  Wouldn’t you, like to be a change maker?

If the above appeals to you, then apply for the Funza Lushaka Bursary (FLB), the programme that is targeted at youth below age 30 who have passed matric / Grade 12 with a Bachelors pass or who meet the requirements for entry to university. During the recruitment process, the Directorate works with provinces, districts, circuits, schools and community leaders working with youth programmes. The supply is determined by the need on the ground, based on retirement patterns, strategic direction of the country, e.g. introduction of the Three Stream Model or the PIRLS report issued. The subjects that require teachers are identified by provinces and therefore prioritised. The Director-General approves these as national priority subjects that will be used for recruitment of youth to study teaching.

Once youth have been identified and completed the necessary forms, the province then sets the date for selections. Parallel to this process, the youth are requested to apply at a public university of their choice. Most universities close applications by the end of October. The Funza Lushaka Information System online application opens on 8 October 2023, for those who qualify to apply for funding to study teaching. The youth who are recruited by the districts are then requested to apply for the FLB online at https://www.eservices.gov.za. Should they be unable to apply due to connectivity or any other reason, district officials will assist with online applications. The youth are therefore encouraged to take this opportunity and be the change agents that our country requires and to apply for the teaching qualification.

For further enquiries please contact Tel: 012 357 3000 or email us at:

inquiries.funzalushaka@dbe.gov.za.