The Sectoral Education and Training Authorities (Setas) have been given until Friday to apply for certificates of renewal as required by the Skills Development Amendment Act.

The 25 Setas' current period of establishment ends in March 2005 and regulations require each authority to apply for a renewal certificate one year before the end of current period of establishment.

Government established the Setas in 2000 to improve the country's skills base by providing to society education and training in various sectors including banking, finance, transport, and construction.

The Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana said the re-establishment exercise provided an opportunity to review performance and to act in sectors where there might be serious under-performance.

"That way I will give my approval on matters such as the amalgamation of Setas where the need arises, new constitutions, the transfer of assets, liabilities, obligations and rights, and the new sector and scope," he said.

But the Minister cautioned that the matter of re-establishment was very sensitive and should not be allowed to get in the way of improving performance and the delivery of the National Skills Development Strategy.

"All key stakeholders share the belief that the re-establishment process should take into account experiences of the last four years.

"All key stakeholders share the belief that the re-establishment process should take into account experiences of the last four years and that the new Seta landscape should be aimed at improving the delivery of our second five years of the National Skills Development Strategy," he said He said the matter had been discussed it was agreed the process should not be seen as a wholesale destablisation of the Seta environment.

The Setas are requested to submit a variety of reports relating among others, to scope of transfers and or boundary changes, or any envisaged mergers, their progress in meeting their 2005 targets, cash flows and revenue for 2003/04. – BuaNews.