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 warned that if these issues are not resolved, strike actions by staff unions could disrupt students’ learning and negatively impact the quality of education provided by the university.
He noted that staff unions at the University of the South Pacific have been in conflict with university management for several months. Recent secret ballot results indicate significant dissatisfaction among the staff regarding the institution’s leadership.
Chand emphasized that approximately 70 percent of the university’s staff are Fijians, and highlighted that the Fijian government provides the largest grant to the institution. He called on the government to prioritize the welfare and concerns of Fijian staff by addressing them through representatives on the USP council.
According to Chand, the welfare of both students and staff, as well as the needs of the member countries, should be the university’s top priorities. He stated that the university must focus on improving the quality of education and research at USP.
The Minister for Education confirmed in parliament last week that the Coalition Government is aware of the concerns raised by staff, which include issues such as employee terminations.