Allegations have emerged that the University of the South Pacific (USP) is billing students for face-to-face tuition while conducting classes online. Additionally, there are claims that full-time staff members are being substituted with consultants from India.
Rosalia Fatiaki, general secretary of the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff Association (AUSPS), emphasized these points during the fifth day of the USP strike. Members of AUSPS and the University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPU) are currently striking for the ousting of University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia, citing poor leadership among other grievances.
Concerns about the quality of education at USP have been raised, with calls for parents to urge their government to keep the university accountable. “The psychology program is fully online, and students have already requested face-to-face interactions,” Ms. Fatiaki stated.
Moreover, she mentioned that the unions have received reports of full-time staff being replaced with online personnel from India. Specific to the agriculture program at the Alafua Campus in Samoa, she alleged that some teaching is being carried out by consultants from India.
Biology PhD student and part-time tutor Bindiya Rashni shared her personal experience, indicating that since July, the sudden departure of their supervisor, Tamara Osborne Naikatini, has left them without critical guidance. “We had to write a support letter to the USP Council to reinstate her quickly because no one else can oversee our research. She is one of the top experts in the Pacific Islands for our field,” Rashni added.
Twelve PhD students in biology are uncertain about their graduation timeline due to the lack of a qualified supervisor to approve their thesis. Despite plans to complete her studies this semester, Ms. Rashni is now stepping in to teach two courses at Dr. Tamara’s request. “We have wasted a semester battling for minor issues. We had an administrative supervisor, but the necessary expertise was lacking, and that expertise is what defines the quality of a PhD,” she explained.
In response to inquiries from this publication, USP stated, “The two concerned unions can only raise grievances as per the approved strike mandate. We acknowledge that there have been other issues raised as part of the strike mandate. The University cannot comment on unrelated issues since the terms and conditions of staff members are not included in the official strike mandate.”
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