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30 JUNE 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) - The University of the South Pacific says 30
academic and comparable staff have resigned as a result of the civilian coup
in Fiji.
But the University's Information Officer, Hamidan Bibi said the mass
resignation does not only include teaching staff but also administrative and
other departments of the university.
"There's no need for panic because these 30 staff members will complete
their normal contract and leave at the end of the year. They will complete
the semester and all the lectures. There is no need for any emergency
recruiting at this stage," Bibi told PACNEWS.
However, USP Registrar, Sarojni Pillai in media reports said most of the
teaching staff resigned because of the growing instability in the country.
Nineteen of the resignations were directly linked to the unresolved
political unrest in Fiji.
The University has re-scheduled its timetable because regional students have
been evacuated to their home countries.
Bibi said regional students would sit their first semester exams in their
respective countries beginning on July 3. The second semester will begin on
July 31.
Final exams will start on November 13 and graduation is set for December 15.
Bibi said USP expects most of the regional students to return for the second
semester. "USP has been in constant contact with governments of member
countries and we have been reviewing the situation and advising them on what
measures to take," she said.
Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu had recalled
their students at the height of the political crisis in Fiji.... PNS (ENDS)
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