The Consumer Council of Fiji has labeled the current student accommodation challenge at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Campus as “unacceptable,” calling for immediate action to remedy the delays and communication issues impacting students.
During a recent visit to the campus, the council observed that many students were uncertain about their housing arrangements, with classes already in session. Large groups gathered outside the Halls Office, and frustrations soared as some students had their accommodation confirmation emails rescinded, leaving them without a place to stay.
The council has expressed significant concerns regarding the temporary housing conditions and the operational delays, categorizing the crisis as a matter of student welfare. They urged the university to effectively address the accommodation backlog, enhance communication with students, and provide a formal explanation regarding the failures along with the proposed corrective actions.
In response, the University of the South Pacific acknowledged the serious concerns raised by the council. They noted that the demand for housing this semester has greatly exceeded their capacity, with over 2,000 applications submitted for just 1,073 available beds. The university prioritizes first-year students from across the region, followed by those from outside Viti Levu and returning students.
The university also attributed some of the pressure on housing to late applications and arrivals that had not received prior approval. Nonetheless, USP remains steadfast in its commitment to manage the circumstances with “care, empathy, and fairness.”
This situation highlights the pressing need for universities to ensure that adequate and reliable accommodation is available for students, particularly at the start of the academic year. As discussions continue, there is hope that effective solutions will be found to alleviate the current pressures and support student welfare more robustly in the future.