Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has urged Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) to improve issues of governance and act decisively against corruption.

Chairpersons of SETAs needed to focus their efforts on turning around the negative perceptions that the public had of SETAs, Nzimande said.

“Improving governance, accountability and accessibility will go a long way towards addressing these negative perceptions,” he said at a meeting with the chairpersons of the country’s 21 SETAs on Tuesday.

The ministers called on SETAs to strengthen the systems currently in place to ensure that the money was spent prudently.

“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,” Nzimande added.

An important task facing the country’s SETAs was the finalisation of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the department for the 2012/2013 financial year, so that critical development challenges South Africa was dealing with could be addressed.

“These SLAs should have very concrete and measurable objectives and goals, as part of the realisation of the goals of the National Skills Development Strategy III,” the minister said.

He called on the meeting to assess progress with regards to the SLAs, the developments of Sector Skills Plans and matters of governance.

SETAs also needed to come up with concrete plans in response to some of government’s urgent projects, such as the development of green and nuclear energy.

The minister said he wanted to see SETAs located closer to the people, noting that head offices were situated in suburbs contributing to the perception it 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,” Nzimande said.

He commended the chairpersons for their role in turning around the SETA system so that it responds effectively to the change of skills developments in an inclusive economy.