By Leila Parina
Regional students studying at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus in Fiji have had another difficult semester. The COVID-19 outbreak which began in April this year and has claimed over 150 lives has shown no signs of slowing down, causing many of USP’s regional students—most who haven’t been home since the start of 2020—great concern.
Students from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and FSM have now completed the first semester of this year’s study, and wait earnestly for announcements on arrangements for semester two.
For many students, the shift in learning mode was difficult to adjust to. “I am a student who learns more from a face-to-face mode when studying…and since COVID-19 happened, it has been difficult since the study mode is online and I also depend on the school resources and facilities,” said Christopher Sigrah, a student from the Federated States of Micronesia.
Two female students from Vanuatu and Solomon Islands agreed, saying they prefer to learn physically alongside others. On-campus students who rely on the school Wi-Fi to conduct their learning faced extra difficulties, as Wi-Fi can only be accessed in certain areas on campus.
This became a problem whenever the USP Halls of Residence management called for full restrictions on movement due to suspected cases on campus and the students were confined to their rooms. “In my room there isn’t good network connection, so I relied on the school Wi-Fi in the campus. I also had a faulty laptop, so whenever they allowed us to study in the labs it was good, but the masks were uncomfortable sometimes” says Yougin Choi, a Solomon Islands business student.
The students say the restrictions were also taking a toll on their health, as they could not move outside for fresh air or to see their friends.
Students have similar strategies for coping during this time. Coralie Pitamoki is a second-year student from the Solomon Islands. She resides off-campus with five other female students and says they usually go shopping every fortnight and cook and eat together.
To manage her food resources, Choi says she eats twice a day, usually eating “brunch” and dinner which mostly is noodles, biscuits or tinned fish. She has a big meal whenever she is able to chip in and cook with her friends.
Students have not only shared food and basic items, but also have relied on each other for emotional support. They say the USP campus has been supportive by giving students a food voucher to use at the Campus Uni Mart.
Earlier this year, the USP Vanuatu Students Association told Fiji media that their allowances had been late, and this had caused some students to be in arrears on their rent payments. The students we spoke to said they were not given enough assistance from their governments. “They [the Vanuatu Government] did not give any COVID-19 packages but they only helped those who had tested positive to COVID… they gave them bags of food,” says a student from Vanuatu. She also said the confirmed positive students were USP students living off-campus.
Similarly, Choi said the Solomon Islands government had not given any COVID-19 allowance, which they were expecting. Last year students received a special allowance, but despite the situation being much worse in 2021, no Solomon Islands government special allowance has been forthcoming, with students receiving only their ordinary student allowance.
PNG student Jacqueline Piniau stated that they had not been contacted by their embassy in Suva since the start of this year’s COVID outbreak.
“I would like to complete my studies”
The students have mixed reactions to returning home during the outbreak. “The Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia is working closely with the national government to bring home students who have already graduated and those who wish to return home. However, I don’t see any reason why I should go home right now. I would like to complete my studies in Tourism and Management before I can return and contribute to my government and communities,” said Christopher Sigrah.
Students from Vanuatu say their government is planning a repatriation flight in July or August and students are currently filling out a repatriation survey. “We are not sure if the repatriation is for all or only for those who are finishing studies this semester. The travel requirements have also changed where they are only allowing fully vaccinated citizens back to the country, and this does not apply to most students as we only received the first dose,” said one student.
Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman said earlier this month that 29 students are completing their studies in Fiji soon and would need to return to Vanuatu. The PM said his government is liaising with their Fijian counterparts to determine when they can bring the students home safely.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has confirmed 22 Solomon Islands students in Fiji have tested positive for COVID-19, saying the situation is extremely worrying for the local students, parents and the government.
“All 22 cases are asymptomatic,” he stated.
Solomon Islands has approximated 850 students in training institutions across Fiji. “Just over 50 of these have graduated and can return home, the rest will remain in Fiji,” PM Sogavare said, noting however that this cannot happen until the outbreak is brought under control in Fiji, given the highly transmittable nature of the Delta variant.
Solomon Island students Choi and Pitamoki say they have heard that their government is arranging repatriation, but details would be confirmed later. Choi hopes to return home soon but is also concerned about the safety of the local citizens and does not want to risk them getting infected. Pitamoki hopes to return home if all classes are online next semester.
Piniau says she would like to return home to Papua New Guinea if a repatriation flight is organised, however she has not received contact directly from the High Commission here in Suva. “Realistically, I would like to return home after I finish my program”, she said.
All students interviewed had received their first dose of the AstraZeneca Vaccine and await their second dose.
On-campus students are again under strict lockdown after Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services reported cases on campus.
Leila Parina is USP journalism student from Central Province (Gabagaba and Gaire), Papua New Guinea.
