Another issue of contention is the allowance paid to a senior academic as 'Acting' Vice Chancellor by UniFiji chairperson Anil Tikaram when that academic was on LEAVE and not 'acting'. This issue is being investigated by FICAC
 THE CLOCK MASTER: Anil Tikaram. The staff claim the problem with the University is bad governance. If true, remember the age old saying: A clock only turns one direction |  BURCHELL - POWER PLAYER? |
The Permanent Secretary of Education, Alison Burchell, is a voting member of this Council as well as the Councils of the other two universities of Fiji. Union members have claimed that the position of the Permanent Secretary, who is a white South African expatriate, causes difficulties for the university since government grants to the university are approved by her, but at the same time she is a voting member of the university council. They say she is patronizing in Council meetings and treats locals with contempt and disrespect. Recently the 2018 government grants were withheld by the Ministry of Education on advise of the PS because she was not satisfied with the audit reports tendered by the Council over a 3-year period, even though she is a voting member of the same University of Fiji Council.
Fijileaks: On 6 January 2016, before Burchell took up her appointment with the Fijian government, she sought advice from us. We had advised her to avoid being sucked into Fijian power politics. We are very surprised concerning the allegations made against her
by our sources inside the University of Fiji.
Burchell to Fijileaks Founding Editor-in-Chief, 6 January 2016:
"I am surprised that you know about my appointment as I was not aware that it has been announced. But then, given your background I should not be surprised!!!! So has it been announced? Thank you for your email - I appreciate it greatly. I am aiming to "report for duty" on 1 February 2016 although I will get to Suva late on 25 January to start the process of finding somewhere to live. Any advice on this? Given your background, I would also appreciate hearing your thoughts on what needs to be done in Fiji and what you think I can do to contribute. Obviously I am coming into a new environment and need to find a fast track to understand the dynamics of the country. It is a great opportunity for me and one where I hope I can contribute positively using my experience of life in South Africa, other parts of Africa and the relatively advanced Europe although challenges with disillusionment of the youth seems to be increasing world-wide. Best wishes and thanks again - Alison"
The University is owned by the Arya Samaj of Fiji which has the power to remove the Council if it flouts the law or university policies. The University is managed by the University of Fiji Act which sets out the powers of the Council and other aspects of the University organisation
 CLOCK-IN, CLOCK OUT: It seems the University of Fiji administration cannot keep away from causing misery to its employees, thus causing problems for itself. ACADEMICS refusing to clock in and clock out are threatened they will be marched out of the UniFiji GATE - TERMINATED |  |
The latest saga which has been going on for a few months is the attempt by the Chairperson of the University Council Anil Tikaram, who as a lawyer should know better, is to impose a Clock In Clock Out regime on academic staff which is the first of its kind for any university academic cadre, let alone in Fiji.
Neither USP nor FNU impose this type of attendance monitoring on academics but University of Fiji has forced its employees to do so on point of disciplinary action, such as termination of employment.
The senior academics, mainly Professors, have all protested against this directive and have asked the Staff Union to resolve their dispute on the Clock In but Tikaram has ignored the dispute resolution mechanisms under the Employment Act of Fiji by threatening staff and instigating the University Council to take action on them.
Eminent professors of the university include Professors Tupeni Baba, Subramani, Anirudh Singh, Ruvendra Nandan, Shaista Shameem and Fred Merchant. All are being allegedly targeted by Tikaram for standing up to the breaches of their contracts of employment.
The Union last week obtained a stay on any further discipilinary action against Union members who refuse to clock in and clock out on the basis that this provision is not contained in their contracts of employment.
The Union states that Tikaram is now in contempt of the Tribunal's orders obtained last week and has instructed its lawyers, Vuataki Law to take further action.
The University is owned by the Arya Samaj of Fiji which has the power to remove the Council if it flouts the law or university policies. The University is managed by the University of Fiji Act which sets out the powers of the Council and other aspects of the University organisation.
The Permanent Secretary of Education is a voting member of this Council as well as the councils of the other two universities of Fiji. Union members have said that the position of the Permanent Secretary, Alison Burcell, who is a white South African expatriate, causes difficulties for the university since government grants to the university are approved by her, but at the same time she is a voting member of the university council.
They say she is patronizing in Council meetings and treats locals with contempt and disrespect. Senior academics have asked for a meeting with the new Minister of Education Rosy Akbar about matters at the University including the issues with the PS and are awaiting advice from her office for an appointment.
Recently the 2018 government grants were withheld by the Ministry of Education on advise of the PS because she was not satisfied with the audit reports tendered by the Council over a 3-year period, even though she is a voting member of the same Council.
Staff say the the Permanent Secretary's position on the Council and also in meetings allocating or withholding grants to the university is a power play and not in line with the transparency needed for government decisions in higher education delivery and funding.
Most of the revenue of the university comes from student fees and only a small amount comes from the government but this is being used as a political football as the university is a private organisation.
The problem with the University is constant bad governance, say the staff.
Another issue of contention is the allowance paid to a senior academic as 'acting' Vice Chancellor by Anil Tikaram when that academic was on leave and not 'acting'. This issue is being investigated by FICAC.
Neither USP nor FNU impose this type of attendance monitoring on academics but University of Fiji has forced its employees to do so on point of disciplinary action, such as termination of employment.
The senior academics, mainly Professors, have all protested against this directive and have asked the Staff Union to resolve their dispute on the Clock In but Tikaram has ignored the dispute resolution mechanisms under the Employment Act of Fiji by threatening staff and instigating the University Council to take action on them.
Eminent professors of the university include Professors Tupeni Baba, Subramani, Anirudh Singh, Ruvendra Nandan, Shaista Shameem and Fred Merchant. All are being allegedly targeted by Tikaram for standing up to the breaches of their contracts of employment.
The Union last week obtained a stay on any further discipilinary action against Union members who refuse to clock in and clock out on the basis that this provision is not contained in their contracts of employment.
The Union states that Tikaram is now in contempt of the Tribunal's orders obtained last week and has instructed its lawyers, Vuataki Law to take further action.
The University is owned by the Arya Samaj of Fiji which has the power to remove the Council if it flouts the law or university policies. The University is managed by the University of Fiji Act which sets out the powers of the Council and other aspects of the University organisation.
The Permanent Secretary of Education is a voting member of this Council as well as the councils of the other two universities of Fiji. Union members have said that the position of the Permanent Secretary, Alison Burcell, who is a white South African expatriate, causes difficulties for the university since government grants to the university are approved by her, but at the same time she is a voting member of the university council.
They say she is patronizing in Council meetings and treats locals with contempt and disrespect. Senior academics have asked for a meeting with the new Minister of Education Rosy Akbar about matters at the University including the issues with the PS and are awaiting advice from her office for an appointment.
Recently the 2018 government grants were withheld by the Ministry of Education on advise of the PS because she was not satisfied with the audit reports tendered by the Council over a 3-year period, even though she is a voting member of the same Council.
Staff say the the Permanent Secretary's position on the Council and also in meetings allocating or withholding grants to the university is a power play and not in line with the transparency needed for government decisions in higher education delivery and funding.
Most of the revenue of the university comes from student fees and only a small amount comes from the government but this is being used as a political football as the university is a private organisation.
The problem with the University is constant bad governance, say the staff.
Another issue of contention is the allowance paid to a senior academic as 'acting' Vice Chancellor by Anil Tikaram when that academic was on leave and not 'acting'. This issue is being investigated by FICAC.
