The Shadow Minister for Education, Hem Chand, is urging the Coalition Government to address ongoing issues at the University of the South Pacific by organizing a special meeting as soon as possible. Chand emphasized that if these issues are not resolved, strike actions by staff unions could disrupt students’ education and negatively impact the quality of learning at the university.
He pointed out that staff unions have been in conflict with the university management for several months, with recent secret ballot results indicating significant dissatisfaction among staff regarding the institution’s leadership. Approximately 70 percent of the university’s staff are Fijians, and the Fijian government provides substantial funding.
Chand called on the Fijian government to prioritize the well-being and concerns of local staff, ensuring their voices are heard at the USP council through appropriate representatives. He asserted that the welfare of students and staff, as well as the needs of member countries, should be the university’s top priorities.
According to Chand, the university must dedicate itself to improving the quality of education and research at USP. He noted that 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 staff terminations.