The most urgent task facing the country’s Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) at the moment is the finalisation of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) for the 2012/2013 financial year so they may effectively address the critical developmental challenges facing South Africa.
Minister for DHET, Dr Blade Nzimande, said this at a meeting with all the chairpersons of the country’s 21 SETAs at the INDLELA (Institute for the National Development of Leanerships, Employment Skills, and Labour Assessments) Centre in Olifantsfontein near Johannesburg this morning.
“These SLAs should have very concrete and measurable objectives and goals, as part of the realization of the goals of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) III,” Minister Nzimande said.
The Minister had called the meeting to assess progress towards the development of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), progress towards the development of Sector Skills Plans (SSPs) and matters relating to governance in the SETAs.
In addition to the development of SLAs and SSPs, SETAs are further required to come up with concrete plans to respond to some of government’s urgent projects, which include the development of both green (solar and wind) and nuclear energy as led by the Department of Energy as well as the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs.
The Minister further emphasised the issue of governance in the SETAs, calling on the Chairpersons to also focus their energies on changing the generally negative perceptions the public had of the SETAs.
“Improving governance, accountability and accessibility will go a long way towards addressing these negative perceptions,” he said.
He said part of improving governance in the SETAs would involve strengthening systems to ensure that the money in the SETAs was spent prudently and for purposes for which it was meant.
“In this regard I would like to urge you that where there are transgressions, including corruption, Chairpersons, together with their boards, must act decisively, without fear or favour. Under your leadership of the SETAs I expect nothing less than clean governance,” said Minister Nzimande.
The Minister came down strongly on the issue of the location of SETAs. He said the location of SETA head offices in suburbs contributed to the legitimate perception that such location only served to benefit service providers over beneficiaries.
“It is often correctly argued that it is service providers to the SETAs, many of whom are located in the upmarket suburbs in our cities, who easily access SETAs for business opportunities often at the expense of the training needs of the majority of the poor who desperately need the services of the SETAs.”
“In the light of the above, I expect that as part of our SLAs, SETAs will have to start opening offices in townships and rural areas, so that their services are closer to the people. Ideally every public FET College must have a SETA office, also as part of facilitating the work placement of college students and graduates,” Minister Nzimande said.
The Minister also commended the role the Chairpersons have played in turning the SETA system around so that it is able to respond effectively to the challenge of skills development for an inclusive economy.
“I expect SETAs to prioritise their developmental role and responsibilities in addressing the many challenges we face as a society, through decisive interventions in skills development,” Minister Nzimande said.
Working closely with the SETAs, the Department has also introduced performance improvements that will refocus SETA activities in terms of the National Skills Development Strategy III, while also initiating a process of strengthening the SETA Sector Skills Plans to be aligned with the Department’s Strategic Plans and reporting mechanisms.
For additional information and requests for interviews, please contact:
Vuyelwa Qinga (Ms)
Cell: 076 883 4144
E-mail: Qinga.V@dhet.gov.za
