The Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam (TISI Sangam) has moved to shore up governance at the Sangam College of Nursing, rejecting the resignations of its chairman and deputy chairman and ordering an independent structural review of the college in a decision the organisation says is aimed at preserving institutional stability.
In a press release issued yesterday, Sangam Fiji President Parveen Bala said the Council of Management decided not to accept the resignations tendered by Chairman Amraiya Naidu and Deputy Chairman Dr Neelesh Gounder. Bala said the council’s deliberations focused on maintaining continuity in leadership and ensuring the college’s governance framework remained intact. “The Council resolved that the resignations tendered by Mr Amraiya Naidu and Dr Amraiya Gounder are not accepted,” the statement said, reiterating Sangam’s confidence in the current leadership.
As part of the governance measures, the council also announced it will appoint an independent consultant to conduct a structural review of the Sangam College of Nursing. The review was prompted by concerns raised about alleged interference from the Sangam Institute of Technology Board in the college’s operations, the council said, and is intended to examine governance arrangements and recommend measures to strengthen institutional independence and oversight.
The council additionally approved a 5 percent across-the-board salary increase for all college staff, backdated to January 1, 2026. The release made clear that any pay increases beyond that 5 percent threshold would need to be negotiated between the National Executive Board and the College’s Academic Board, signalling that further adjustments would follow formal internal consultation.
The decisions come amid growing scrutiny of governance standards across Fiji’s tertiary institutions. Earlier this year a whistleblower flagged governance concerns at Fiji National University, prompting wider attention to appointment processes and academic integrity. TISI Sangam’s move to commission an external review and to publicly reaffirm senior leadership can be read as part of a broader push among education bodies to address perceived lapses and shore up transparency.
Sangam College of Nursing, operated under the umbrella of TISI Sangam, provides nursing education and training in Fiji. The council’s statement framed yesterday’s actions as necessary to protect the institution’s stability, continuity and good governance while the external review takes place. Details on the scope, timeline and selection process for the independent consultant were not released in the statement.
By refusing the resignations and ordering the review, TISI Sangam has signalled a preference for institutional continuity while addressing internal concerns. Stakeholders and staff at the college will likely be watching closely for the consultant’s findings and any subsequent changes to governance arrangements or management practice.
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