Nearly 3 000 aspiring teachers are set to receive their bursary allowances after the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) paid R222.7 million to six universities for the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme.
The payment of R222 688 894, which benefits 2 927 students, was confirmed during Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Yusuf Cassim’s meeting with senior NSFAS officials and the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme team in Cape Town on Thursday, the Ministry said in a statement at the weekend.
Six campuses, thousands of futures
The latest batch of payments went to the Central University of Technology, North-West University, the University of Fort Hare, the University of Limpopo, the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa. The institutions are now responsible for processing and paying the respective allowances to their students.
“These payments must now reach students without delay so they can focus on their studies,” Deputy Minister Cassim said. “I appreciate the work being done by the NSFAS and the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme teams to expedite this process.”
A R1.3 billion investment in the classroom
The Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme is a multi-year financial support programme funded by the Department of Basic Education to support students pursuing teaching qualifications at participating universities, with NSFAS acting as the disbursement agency. It is one of South Africa’s most important talent pipelines, turning promising school-leavers into the qualified teachers the country’s classrooms need.
For the current academic year, 23 universities have been allocated R1.3 billion under the programme. The allocation is comprehensive, covering:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation
- Meals and learning materials
- A living allowance
And the momentum is continuing. For August, claims totalling R295 988 585 for a further 3 095 students have already been uploaded for processing, with those payments due to flow in September through the normal processes.
Smarter systems on the way
To make the process even smoother for students, NSFAS has proposed a joint workshop with stakeholders, scheduled for November 2026, ahead of the next academic year. The workshop will focus on eliminating manual processes through automation, establishing effective communication channels with students, and improving alignment and payment timelines.
The Deputy Minister has also directed NSFAS to write to all institutions to confirm that Funza Lushaka bursary recipients will receive their allowances without interruption, keeping the pressure on so that every future teacher can keep their eyes on the prize: the front of a South African classroom. The story was first reported by SAnews.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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