BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
STUDENTS of the Solomon Islands National University have turned up in number to show support for its student association’s 14-day strike notice in yesterday’s open forum with institution heads.
The Solomon Islands National Students Association (SINUSA) said yesterday in front of the department heads that the strike notice still stands until its demands are met.
Students spoken to say while they acknowledge SINU’s current development, they feel that the institution has overlooked their welfare.
They are also say they are concerned that their legal body is ‘violated’.
Before SINU’s vice chancellor (acting) Prof Basil Marasinghe and 10 heads of department, the students voiced their stand on having the pro-vice chancellor (corporate) Donald Malasa removed.
Mr Marasinghe told the students that he did not have the mandate to remove Mr Malasa.
Such decision must be from the University Council before any action taken, it’s a regulation and protocol of SINU, he said.
He suggested SINUSA and students to call off the strike and come up with a resolution because boycotting lectures will affect the school’s academic rounds this semester.
The SINU leaders provided the students with two options; First, is to withdraw the strike and secondly, form a committee (select two rep from SINUSA and SINU) to re-look on student concerns in a professional way.
After much deliberation, both parties agreed to select two representatives each to join a committee which will be formed later, but the strike will still continue.
SINUSA president Mr Reginald Ngati said as strike notice is approaching its maturity SINUSA welcomes further dialogue with SINU regarding their issue of interest and come up with a resolution.
If the 14 days lapse and SINU fails to meet their demand, Ngati said they have other alternatives to take the issue to another level.
“We have a lot of options in place, and have a think tank of group of student with good brains which we will look at other alternatives. We will not stop until the demands of students are met,” Ngati said.
The strike notice will lapse on Wednesday April 4, 2018.
Mr Malasa did not attend the forum yesterday.
