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TRADE TEST
Trade Testing Centres (all corresponces should be addressed to the Chief Trade Testing Officer)
Lilongwe Trade Testing Centre P.O. Box 1286, Lilongwe. Phone 01724160; Fax: 01724160.
Situated along the Lilongwe-Blantyre M1 road, behind Water Board Tanks at Biwi Triangle,
Opposite Petroda Filling Station .
Blantyre Trade Testing Centre, P.O. Box 30075, Chichiri, Blantyre 3. Phone 01879466. Fax: 01888430.
Situated at Ginnery Corner along the Johnston Road to ESCOM power house, opposite Blantyre Road
Traffic Offices.
Mzuzu Trade Testing Centre, P.O. Box 20140, Luwinga Mzuzu 2. Phone 01320955. Fax 01320955.
Situated in Luwinga Township along the Mzuzu – Karonga road (M 1) opposite Petroda Filling Station in
Luwinga.
Mission Statement
To assess and certify skilled craft persons in various prescribed trades and grades.
Vision
High skill standards
Objectives
To asses, award and certify tradesmen in vocational skills
To Empower the youth in entrepreneurship skills for self and formal employment
To maintain skills standards and reduce industrial skills gaps
Background
The need for the craft persons started in 1950s under colonial power when the Ministry of Health,
Nyasaland Railways and Public Works Department maintained departmental Trade Tests. Tradesmen were
not given any certificates but promotion because of on-the-job training. The only problem with the set up
was that when an artisan wanted to move from one department to another or private sector, the other
departments were not recognizing departmental qualifications. There was limited mobility of labour. This
led to the establishment of Trade Test Scheme which became operational in 1956
Trade Test was mandated to assess and certify those formally, informally and less privileged skilled craft
persons in various trades at Grade 3, Grade 2 and Grade 1 levels. What prompted the introduction of the
three levels was that Trade Unions petitioned employers for the unfair treatment of unskilled workers who
were not properly rewarded. As a solution to the problem, stakeholders in respective industries formulated
standards and attached a wage rate to each level of the qualification. Ministry of Labour was identified
to undertake that function through the Trade Testing Department.
Since the inception of National Trade Test in 1956, Trade Test had its offices in Blantyre city located in
the southern region of Malawi. However, due to increased demand for assessment and certification of the
skilled workforce, one centre could not cope for the whole country, hence, there was need for another centre.
In 1976 a second Centre was opened in Lilongwe, the central region of Malawi. The Centre was to cater
for the Central and Northern regions of the country. Yet again, it became imperative that Lilongwe Centre
could not sustain the pressure due to the ever increasing demand for recognition of achieved competencies
and skills by the artisans. So in 1985, a third centre was established in the northern region to deal with the
demand in that part of the country.
Registration
Examination fees: Grade 3 = K5,000.00, Grade 2 = K7,500.00, Grade 1 = K10,000.00. Fees payment should be
done at Trade Testing Centres only.
Certificate replacement fees: Grade 3 = K8,000.00, Grade 2 = K10,000.00, Grade 1 = K12,000.00
Application form
Certificate replacement form
Eligibility and requirements: Applicants at Grade 3 level are required to submit two colour passport size
photographs (sizes 35mm by 45mm) which are most recent. A candidate is not allowed to apply for a
higher grade e.g. Grade 2 and Grade 1 before passing at a lower grade e.g. grade 3 and Grade 2 respectively.
A candidate who fails in an examination is eligible to retake the test after six months. A candidate who
passes in an examination at a lower grade is eligible to sit for the subsequent grade ONLY after one year.
This gives space for industrial practice.
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