The Shadow Minister for Education, Hem Chand, is urging the Coalition Government to address the ongoing issues at the University of the South Pacific by organizing a special meeting as soon as possible. Chand stressed that if these problems remain unresolved, strike actions by staff unions could disrupt students’ learning and negatively impact the quality of education provided at the university.
Chand noted that staff unions have been in conflict with the University management for several months. Reports from secret ballot results indicate a significant level of dissatisfaction among staff regarding the leadership of the institution.
He highlighted that approximately 70 percent of the university’s staff are Fijians and emphasized that the largest grant is provided by the Fijian government. Chand called on the government to ensure that the welfare and concerns of Fijian staff are effectively communicated to the university council through their representatives.
Moreover, Chand stated that the welfare of both students and staff, along with the needs of member countries, should be the university’s top priority. He insisted that the university must focus on improving the quality of education and research at USP.
In a recent parliamentary session, the Minister for Education acknowledged the concerns raised by staff and confirmed that issues, including staff terminations, have been brought to the attention of the government.