Allegations have emerged regarding the University of the South Pacific (USP) charging students for face-to-face tuition while conducting classes online. Additionally, there are claims that full-time staff members are being replaced by consultants from India.
Rosalia Fatiaki, the general secretary of the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff Association (AUSPS), raised these concerns during the fifth day of the USP strike. Members of the AUSPS and the University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPU) are currently on strike to demand the removal of the Vice-Chancellor and President (VCP) Professor Pal Ahluwalia, citing poor leadership and other grievances.
Fatiaki emphasized the importance of these issues, urging parents to urge the government to address these matters, as they jeopardize the quality of education at USP. She noted that students in the psychology program are experiencing limited face-to-face interaction despite petitioning for more live interaction.
She also highlighted instances where full-time staff members have been supplanted by consultants from India, specifically mentioning the agriculture program at the Alafua Campus in Samoa where Indian consultants are teaching.
Bindiya Rashni, a PhD biology student and part-time tutor, shared her experience regarding the abrupt termination of their supervisor, Tamara Osborne Naikatini. Rashni stated that the student group had to petition the USP Council to reinstate her due to her expertise being crucial for their research.
Concerned about the impact on her graduation timeline, Rashni said that approximately 12 PhD students in her field are uncertain about their future without a qualified biologist to approve their theses. She added that she had to step in to teach two courses at Naikatini’s request, highlighting a lack of proper supervision and expertise for their program.
In response to inquiries, USP stated that the two unions can only address grievances within the approved strike framework and noted that additional issues raised are not covered under the official strike mandate.
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