Government doing very little to address longstanding grievances of students and staff at USP - Chaudhry

I’m amazed that the government of Fiji is doing very little to bring closure to this longstanding grievance of students and staff at the USP.

This was highlighted by Fiji Labour Party Leader and former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry as he visited the striking USP staff today.

The USP staff and student unions are demanding the immediate suspension of Vice Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia, citing ongoing poor leadership and governance at the university.

Chaudhry says the government's lack of intervention has allowed the crisis to escalate over the years, further impacting students and university operations, damaging the university’s reputation and affecting the education of its students.

He calls for an investigation into the serious allegations to restore trust and transparency, emphasizing that the ongoing poor management cannot be overlooked any longer.

He further says the Fiji Labour Party supports the cause of the striking workers and will be issuing an official statement shortly.

In an interview with fijivillage News, Association of USP Staff Acting President, Krishneel Ram says they are here because of governance issues.

He says they are tired of this political style of governance and delaying tactics.

Ram says the staff and students are united in solidarity and are not afraid of anything.

Ram says there is a deliberate delay in the investigation process, emphasizing that the shorter the time given for the investigation, the lesser information can be uncovered.

When asked by fijivillage News about the impact on students with disturbance in classes and upcoming exams, Ram says the union's efforts aim to ensure a better environment for learning and teaching at the university.

He says the students understand the issues at hand and are supporting the staff's actions.

He adds that after the strike, teachers are secretly meeting with students because they care about their studies and want to support them during this time.

Ram urges the USP Council members to take action, as the university is crucial for the region and greatly affects the students who are currently impacted.