Students from the University of the South Pacific staged a large-scale protest yesterday, calling for changes to the current teaching methods. They expressed concerns that many courses are taught by consultants rather than qualified professional lecturers.
Reports indicate that the protest may have also led to the dismissal of Dr. Tamara Osborne Naikatini.
Among the protestors was Semesa Nawasoni, the President of the Yasana ko Ba Student Association, who stated that the strike resulted from grievances that the USP Students Association has failed to address, with key decisions being made without student input.
“The protest arose because many students feel their voices are not being acknowledged, especially regarding the quality of their teaching staff,” Nawasoni remarked.
He urged the management at USP to hire qualified teaching professionals for the benefit of the students and emphasized the importance of listening to student concerns.
“All we seek is for qualified educators to be placed appropriately and for our grievances to be taken seriously,” Nawasoni added.
Manasa Navara, President of the University’s I-Taukei Student Association, claimed he was unaware of any communication breakdown, asserting that he has actively communicated all grievances presented to him.
“We have maintained a strict communication process, so I am unsure where the disconnect occurred. From my understanding, I have conveyed all the grievances that I received to the Federal,” Navara stated.
Meanwhile, sources have confirmed that the student-led protest is set to continue until the USP’s Student Association makes a decision that is beneficial for both students and staff.
Leave a comment