BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Eswatini College of Technology (ECOT) students could not hold their happiness, as Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo conferred them with Diplomas in different disciplines.
The graduation ceremony, which started at 9:30am, took place today (Friday, October 25, 2024) at Mbabane Alliance Church. It was attended by the students themselves, who were the centre of attention. Lecturers from the country’s college of technology, under the leadership of Acting Principal Henry Khumalo, also attended the event.
Among the guests attending the event was Hhohho Regional Administrator (RA) Princess Tsandzile, Senator Prince Mphatfwa, Eswatini’s Chief Inspector for Tertiary Education Dr Buyisile Dladla, Mbabane Alliance Church Leader Reverend Dr Johannes Mazibuko, UNESWA Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Tendekayi Henry Gadaga, among other dignitaries. The parents and guardians of the students also made sure they attended this auspicious occasion. Thami Dlamini, a well-known educationist, was given a challenging task of directing the proceedings. However, he never disappointed, as he was up for the challenge. His event was well organised and attendants would heed to his directions.
The Mbabane Alliance Church, which was almost packed to the rafters, would occasionally be full of noise, which was influenced by the joyfulness coming mostly from the students and the parents/guardians. One would understand the students’ happiness, as they were supposed to receive their credential, which came at a high cost of huge amounts of money that had to be paid in respect of tuition, accommodation, and other demands that came with receiving quality education.
The best performing students of ECOT.
The students would sometimes spend sleepless nights, trying to do well in their examinations, in order to get their credentials, which will be their gate-way to the world of work. The parents/guardians were happy because the success of the students positively portrayed them as people who had the ability to lead the students to success. The Brass Band from the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) also elated the attendants with their songs, some of which were traditional song normally sung during traditional events.
During the event, the Brass Band also sang the now-famous song, ‘Halala,’ which means, ‘Congratulations.’ The song prompted all those in attendance, including the students, to stand up and sing along with the band. Almost everyone in attendance was happy at that moment, as the students were congratulated through the song. The event was also graced by the performance of Poetry, Ingadla, and Sibhaca from the ECOT students, who joined in congratulating their peers, who had reached an end of their tertiary learning journey.
The best performing students of ECOT.
The students were told one thing during the event – to find ways of creating jobs for themselves. This is necessary because nowadays, it is difficult to find jobs, as the rate of unemployment is high. As technology students themselves, they were reminded that the technological explosion witnessed nowadays was part of the reason why people lost jobs, resulting in the rising unemployment.
ECOT Acting Principal Henry Khumalo congratulating of of the graduands.
ECOT Acting Principal Henry Khumalo highlighted during the event that ECOT was now in the process of introducing entrepreneurship courses to arm the students with the much-needed business administration skills, which will help them, as they started their own businesses. Minister Khumalo also emphasised that students should consider venturing into business, as jobs were scarce nowadays. He further congratulated the students for taking good care of themselves while they were still busy with their studies. Princess Tsandzile only congratulated the students for being resilient until they achieved their goals.
Programme Director Thami Dlamini would occasionally plead, particularly to Minister Nxumalo, Princess Tsandzile, and Senator Prince Mphatfwa to ensure they enacted legislations in Parliament that would enable the students to improve themselves. After the students were given their credentials, best performing students were also recognised and were given an opportunity for a photo-shoot with the invited guests. The event ended at around 2pm.
