By Ncaba Ntshakala
The Eswatini Higher Education Council (ESHEC) has reported that it has inspected 12 tertiary institutions and assessed 150 subjects in the country since 2022.
This update came to light when the Ministry of Education and Training appeared before the House of Senate to deliberate on their performance report.
As an entity under the ministry, ESHEC was required to provide an account of its activities, particularly regarding its mandate to regulate higher education in Eswatini.
According to the council, the inspections and monitoring activities are part of their ongoing efforts to ensure that tertiary institutions comply with the national standards set forth by the Higher Education Act of 2013.
This regulatory framework empowers ESHEC to oversee the quality of education offered in the country’s institutions, covering areas such as registration, accreditation, and institutional audits.
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ESHEC also asserted that it plays a vital role in promoting quality assurance, setting academic standards, and ensuring that the higher education sector is aligned with the country’s economic and development goals.
One educator, Mbuso Dlamini, shared his views on ESHEC’s work where he acknowledged the council’s efforts but expressing concerns about certain trends in the sector.
Dlamini pointed out that while the inspections are necessary, the increasing number of tertiary institutions offering duplicate programmes poses a problem.
“Many of these institutions are providing courses that already exist in older institutions, and this saturation in the market leads to a surge in unemployment,” he noted.
Dlamini stressed that the country is witnessing an oversupply of graduates in specific fields, which are no longer in high demand.
He urged ESHEC to take a proactive approach by advising institutions to diversify their programmes and focus on emerging industries.
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“There is a need for ESHEC to collaborate with other ministries, the private sector, and even international stakeholders to identify relevant and future-oriented programs,” he said.
He also suggested that institutions should consider outsourcing or discontinuing programs that are no longer relevant in today’s fast-evolving job market.
Moreover, ESHEC was established in 2015 to provide oversight in the tertiary education sector, ensuring that institutions offer quality programs that meet international standards and address the country’s socio-economic needs.
