A salary agreement in Further Education and Training (FET) colleges has been reached, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande said on Wednesday.

He applauded what he called a prompt conclusion by the FET colleges Bargaining Unit in the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC), arrived at amid an ongoing salary dispute by school teachers.

The agreement comes ahead of a two-day FET colleges summit, early in September, to prepare for the 2011 academic year in the colleges.

The collective agreement establishes parity in salaries of lecturing staff and office-based lecturers employed in public FET colleges, with salaries of teachers in public schools.

It will be backdated to April 1 this year, with a 1% annual pay progression from July 1.

Nzimande said that the salary structure would comprise a single salary scale with 221 notches, each one percent apart, which would be the same as the occupation specific dispensation (OSD) salary scale applicable to teachers.

He said that this agreement formed part of a two-tier plan to improve working conditions in the FET colleges sector.

"Parties to the ELRC [and the] FET Bargaining Unit are currently working on a plan to address the conditions of service for lecturers in the FET colleges sector."

Nzimande said that the salary issue has been of great concern since the announcement, last year, by President Jacob Zuma that FET colleges should become an exclusive national competence.

"The conclusion of this agreement, which establishes uniformity in salary scales with lectures in public basic education, will provide much-needed stability and motivation in the college sector.

"A stable, efficient and effective college sector is critical to our strategic goals for skills development and artisan training.

"For those working in the sector, we hope this agreement inspires confidence," Nzimande said.