The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through the Directorate of Industrial and Vocational Training has a mandate for vocational training based on the Industrial and Vocational Training (IVT) Act of 1982. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is currently housing the national trade tests standards which are a basis for industrial skills assessment. The ministry in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Training is embarking on the development of vocational training unit standards and qualifications to register them in the newly approved Eswatini Qualifications Framework (ESQF) in order to align the current approaches in the SADC region. The Government of Eswatini in this project assisted by the Government of the Republic of China (ROC) – Taiwan under the Technical and Vocational Skills Certification Enhancement Project (the Project).

The country in the past years did pilot development of unit standards and a qualification. The Unit Standards and Qualifications were a result of an extensive consultation process and industry mapping combined with benchmarking from materials from other countries in the region. Due to evolution in the training sector, the unit standards and qualification need to be revisited to confirm its relevance with current practices and to cover any likely gaps together with removing irrelevant applications. The materials were not implemented due to lack of structures which are now in place.  The project looks to review the standards for implementation and registration in the Eswatini Qualifications Framework.

Currently, there are three working committees of experienced experts that are drafting the unit standards from NQF level 2 up to level 4. For each working committee, there is one or two writing experts contracted to facilitate the workshops for the field experts.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Experts, selected across the engineering sector were invited at a workshop for competency based education and training (CBET) and then a few of the electrical experts were selected to formulate the unit standards. The electrical engineering working committee is comprised of the following experts:

1. Malangeni Dlamini – Tambankulu Estate
2. Bongani Ngwenya – RES Corporation
3. Dumsani Hlophe – Eswatini Railway
4. John Mahlalela – University of Eswatini
5. Khisimuzi Tshabalala – Eswatini Electricity Company
6. Jabulani Shongwe – Gwamile VOCTIM

The unit standards will be packaged into a qualification which will have to be adopted by local TVET institutions.

HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM

The hospitality and tourism working committee is comprised of the following experts:

1. Philile Dlamini-Nabaala – Eswatini College of Technology
2. Gladys Dlamini – Eswatini College of Technology
3. Jabulani Khanyile – Royal Villas
4. Fola Dlamini – Ramblas Resturent
5. Pinky Dlamini –  Piggs Peak Hotel
6. Thembinkhosi Sikhondze – Happy Valley Hotel
7. Thembi Tshabala – Independent

HEATING VENTILATION AIR-CONDITION and REFRIGERATION

The air-condition and refrigeration, otherwise known as HVACR, working committee is comprised of the following experts:

1. Manyakatane Dlamini – Gwamile VOCTIM
2. Clifford N. Maziya – USA Embassy
3. Bongani Ngubeni – Palfridge
4. Mervin Du Pont – Auto Air Con
5. Samkeliso Mavuso – Staycool
6. Peter Chawira – SAE
7. Mbongiseni Ndlela – UGH
8. Thabiso N. Dlamini – CIC
9. Brian Mbingo-  Independent