SECTOR 4 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 1.3 (2005: 1.4; 2007: 1.5; 2009: 2.2; 2011: 1.7) 4.7 Media professionals have access to training facilities offering formal qualification programmes as well as opportunities to upgrade skills. The University of Swaziland offers a four-year Bachelor degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. The first batch of four-year degree students is expected to graduate at the end of 2014. Prior to this, the university offered only a diploma in Journalism and Mass Communications. The number of students enrolled in the degree programme has dropped dramatically in recent years, as the government has ceased to sponsor journalism, law and political science students’ tuition and accommodation at the University of Swaziland. The state has now reportedly shifted its educational funding to students of the private Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, which is said to have royal associations. “The government seems to be on a mission to destroy the University (of Swaziland), especially the journalism department, because it makes people too clever.” Panellists felt the quality of teaching at Limkokwing, which has been in existence for just a few years, is questionable. Some stated that it is “ruining our standard of education”. Limkokwing offers an Associate Degree in Journalism and Media, Television and Film Production, Creative Multimedia, and Advertising, which panellists say is not recognised in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Panellists felt that the formal training of the University of Swaziland’s degree programme prepared journalists for the job, while “students from Limkokwing can’t even construct a sentence”. 64 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Swaziland 2014