Allegations have emerged that the University of the South Pacific (USP) is charging students for face-to-face tuition while delivering 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), brought these issues to light during the fifth day of the USP strike. Members of the AUSPS and the University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPU) are on strike calling for the removal of the University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, citing poor leadership along with other grievances.
Fatiaki emphasized the need for parents to urge their government to address these concerns, stating, “We are compromising the quality of education at USP.” She mentioned that the psychology program is entirely online, despite students requesting face-to-face interactions. Additionally, she alleged that full-time staff members have been substituted with online staff from India, specifically pointing to the agriculture program at the Alafua Campus in Samoa, which reportedly employs consultants from India.
Biology PhD student and part-time tutor Bindiya Rashni shared her experience, highlighting the sudden termination of their supervisor, Tamara Osborne Naikatini, in July. Rashni explained that they had to petition the USP Council to reinstate Naikatini as she is a leading expert in the Pacific Islands necessary for supervising their research. She expressed concerns for the 12 PhD students in her field, stating their graduation is uncertain without an expert to approve their theses. Rashni was set to complete her studies this semester but has had to take on teaching responsibilities at Naikatini’s request.
She lamented, “We had almost wasted a semester battling for little things here and there. We had an administrative supervisor, but there was no expertise provided. The expertise is what we lack and expertise defines a PhD quality.”
In response to inquiries about these issues, USP stated, “The two unions can only raise grievances as per the approved strike mandate. We note that there have been other issues being raised as part of the strike mandate. The University cannot comment on other issues being raised as terms and conditions of staff members are not included in the official strike mandate.”
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