On November 06, 2023; a two-day trade pre-assessment had been conducted for two pilot groups in preparation for Grade III Electrical wiremen trade tests than ran from November 13, 2023 through to November 17, 2023.  The pre-assessment was conducted at the DIVT electrical workshop.

The session had been jointly funded by the Technical and Vocational Skills Certification Enhancement Project (Taiwan Technical Mission), Tex-Ray Company from Matsapha and the Solar Training and Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Centre (STREEC) from Nhlangano. Tex-Ray and STREEC bought all the consumables for the two-day activity while the TVET Project assisted with all the coordination with its personnel and the payment for the assessor, Mr. Promise Gama from the National Handicraft Training Centre (NHTC).  The host, DIVT; assisted with the re-usable materials, workshop and its personnel.

The TVET project intends to identify gaps in performance of the candidates to assist the DIVT and government to reduce the high failure rate in trade test especially the electrical wiremen. The grade tests which ran from November 13 to November 17 had been fully sponsored by the project. A total of 64 candidates have benefited while 32 of the 64 were lucky to attend the pre-assessment session.  The 32 candidates were mostly from STREEC and Gwamile VOCTIM’s up-skilling programme, while the few were from Tex-Ray company.  The Tex-Ray company is commended for up-skilling its workforce.

The Grade III Electrical Wiremen Grade test has about 5 sections and the actual grade test duration is 8 hours.  Candidates are practically examined on house wiring, bell circuit wiring, joining a cable with splicing kit, glanding a cable and finally examined orally on electrical practice. The examination has changed time and again as the DIVT is in constant engagement with industry players, group of experts and regional partners.  This is evident in the formulation of qualifications in various trades and registration with Eswatini Qualification Authority to ensure that the certificates awarded by DIVT are internationally recognized.  

The DIVT Director Mr. Earnest Simelane advises vocational schools and instructors who train students with skills that are to be trade tested at the DIVT to constantly liaise with the DIVT Senior Trade Testing officer Mr. Makhanya to get latest trade test standards or alternatively visit the DIVT website and follow its social media pages.