The Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, has reached out to the Pro Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific (USP) as well as the university council secretariat to seek clarification on recent developments at the university.
Mr. Radrodro revealed that a special council meeting held in September decided to appoint an independent investigator to look into allegations against Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
Last week, members of the USP staff union, unhappy with the situation, went on strike, demanding the suspension of the Vice Chancellor to ensure that the independent investigation could proceed without interference.
Even though the council agreed to launch an independent inquiry, the terms of reference for the investigation are still pending finalization. The report was initially set to be presented at the upcoming Council Meeting next month.
Union members claim the delay is deliberate since the Council Secretariat operates directly under the Vice Chancellor.
“We are in discussions with the council, Pro Chancellor, and the secretariat to clarify the timeline for the agreed processes,” Mr. Radrodro stated. “This involves the appointment of both the visitor and the independent investigator. We need to ensure that all agreements are honored, addressing the concerns raised by the staff unions.”
He pointed out that multiple inquiries have been submitted from both Fiji and other council members requesting updates on the council’s stance regarding the situation at USP.
While Mr. Radrodro welcomed the end of the strike, he emphasized that the ministry would continue advocating for a peaceful resolution between the management and staff concerning the issues that have arisen.
“We hope for a resolution that enables both parties to concentrate on the university’s operations and improvements, ensuring that students are not negatively impacted as exams approach,” he added.
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