The Directorate for Industrial and Vocational Training (DIVT) with assistance from the Technical and Vocational Skills Certification Project is considering trade testing for Microsoft Office. Currently the DIVT offers trade testing in 25 trades including electrical, painting, welding and motor vehicle mechanic to mention a few. Microsoft Office trade testing is the first office job to be considered for trade testing at the DIVT.

The Technical and Vocational Skills Certification Project from the Taiwan Technical Mission has funded a two-day workshop at Emafini Lodge for experts in the field of Office Management and Technology. The chosen experts among personal assistants, secretaries, and high school teachers in ICT.  Some of the experts came from Exams Council of Eswatini, Manzini Municipality, Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority, Central Bank Eswatini, Eswatini College of Technology etc.

The Technical and Vocational Skills Certification Enhancement Project has helped many EmaSwati through upskilling courses like Domestic Wiring and Motor Vehicle Mechanics offered at Gwamile VOCTIM. These two courses are trade tested at DIVT and the graduates are able to find jobs with their government recognized trade test certificates. In the field of ICT, the project had in the past years been offering Microsoft Office Course at Eswatini College of Technology and many people have taken the course and were able to get job promotion e.g., from cleaner to office clerk.

The trade testing for MS office will be a first in Eswatini but common in other developed countries like Taiwan. The new development in the country will help Emaswati to acquire a government recognized certificates as there are a lot of colleges offering MS courses. During the workshop, the experts concluded that the MS Office trade or occupation will be called Data Processing Clerk, whereby the personnel will be tested in word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, publication, databases and outlook.

When asked on how the introduction of the Microsoft Office trade in trade testing would benefit Emaswati, one the experts Princess Gugu Kunene from the Central Bank of Eswatini said that the exercise will have a positive impact on individuals who did dot get a chance to study through formal education due to various reasons which include financial challenges. Kunene further said that an individual who has gained the skill through experience or otherwise will now have the chance to have their purported skill tested for fitness and if successful can qualify for employment in both public and private sector thus contributing to personal and economic growth.