Page 42 - IB November 2024

Education Education

WATCH AND WAIT

REGIONAL UNIVERSITY STRIKE ON HOLD

By Aisha Azeemah
Osborne-Naikatini shared.
Staff and students at the University of the South Pacific “The terms of reference for the independent investigation
have spent the past few months voicing their concerns were released weeks after the Council meeting and an
through marches and strike mandates, awaiting the outcomes independent investigator was apparently selected by the
of their efforts. Council Secretariat, under instruction of the Acting Chair
The USP Council is now reportedly set to meet in Cook of Council, Professor Pat Walsh. There was no selection
Islands for the second time in three months, as we go to print. committee and no other candidates that could have bid
While the threat of a strike drew action from the Fiji for the work. At this point, the circumstances suggest that
representatives on the USP Council, with a special council Professor Pat Walsh and the VCP are making important
meeting being called this past September at their request, decisions for the USP Council without consultation with the
the outcomes of said meeting appeared only to incite more Council members from the Pacific Islands. And that to me
discontent among the striking staff and supporting students. smacks of neo-colonialism,” she said.
Former staff union president Dr Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, Islands Business has been reliably informed that the
who was terminated earlier this year—reportedly under the independent investigator selected may be a leading local
orders of the Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwahlia— accountant with over 40 years of experience in providing
remains closely connected to the movements of the staff audits.
unions of USP, her termination playing a part in the anger of “We trust that the independent investigation will be carried
the union members. out ethically and without undue interference in the process
“This strike mandate lodged with the Ministry of Labour in and findings by the chief human resource decision maker at
Fiji was the trigger for the Fiji government representatives on USP, the Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia,” Dr Osborne-
the USP Council to call for the Special Council,” Dr Osborne- Naikatini said at this news.
Naikatini shared with Islands Business in a recent interview. “Given the level of concern that has been raised in Council
“The agenda of the meeting should have been based on the by the Pacific Island representatives, which stems from
Fiji government representatives’ paper for the meeting, which concerns raised by students from the 12 member countries,
detailed their concerns regarding the VCPs role in the staff the actions of the Acting Pro-Chancellor indicate his
grievances. However, it appears that the agenda was modified indifference to the Council members’ concerns and disregard
before dissemination to the members for the meeting, by the for the very real issues that affect the quality of education
Council Secretariat Ratu Totivi Bokini,” she claimed. that our Pacific Island students are receiving at USP,” she said.
“It is the Council Secretariat’s job to act upon instruction The concerns of the students had largely been left unheard
from the Chair of Council, the Acting Pro-Chancellor and New during the early months of discord at the University. However,
Zealand Government’s sole representative on the USP Council, upon the termination of Dr Osborne-Naikatini, several groups
Professor Pat Walsh.” of students have raised their voices, their actions culminating
Dr Osborne-Naikatini’s belief that the deliberations of the in a student-led march of over a hundred strong in late
Special Council meeting should have been focused on the Fiji October.
Government representatives’ paper, which, reportedly, was One postgraduate student, formerly under the supervision
to discuss allegations of mismanagement against the Vice of Dr Osborne-Naikatini, said, “On a general note, students
Chancellor, is shared by much of the striking staff members, are highly against the VC and (Acting) Deputy Vice Chancellor
many of whom cited similar reasons for their participation in Gurmeet Singh, claiming that the university wasn’t affected
the strike. due to the strike action of staff.”
“The point of the Special Council Meeting was to address Several students at the march showed evidence of
our concerns,” an anonymous staff member said during the cancelled classes and missed supervisions, while official USP
strike. press releases continued to claim that student learning had
“Our concerns were against the VC. Investigating HR been unaffected.
matters is too vague. Which HR matters? Who is under “Our protest asking for the reinstatement of Dr Osborne-
investigation?” Naikatini was shunned by saying that it was an emotional
“I, like the USP staff who decided to undertake the strike, response. The Senate still fails to see the importance of Dr
felt appalled that the Acting Pro-Chancellor released a Tamara’s reinstatement. Will the senate take responsibility
watered down statement that did not reflect the purpose for the consequences and compromise of our dissertations and
and actual resolutions of the Special Council meeting,” Dr publication quality?”
When asked whether an appropriate replacement supervisor

42 Islands Business, November 2024