Uni Fiji students raise concerns after their graduation had been postponed due to National Budget Consultation

Some students of the University of Fiji have raised concerns that their graduation has been postponed because of the National Budget Consultation that will be held at the University's Saweni campus in April.

This issue was raised with Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed ‑Khaiyum during the 2018‑2019 Budget Consultation at the University's Samabula campus yesterday.

One of the students of the Graduate Diploma In Legal Practical course who raised the issue with the Minister told Legend FM News that in February this year the University had advertised its graduation dates in one of the local newspapers which was the 6th of April.

He says following the advertisement a lot of the students had preplanned accommodation for their families coming from overseas and other parts of the country.

He says there are 24 students in the Graduate Diploma In Legal Practical program and close to 100 students will be graduating.

He says the whole of the Graduate Diploma In Legal Practical class has been affected by the decision made by the University's Senate to change the graduation date from the 6th to the 13th of April.

The student says the reason that was given to them was that it was because of an unforeseen circumstance faced by the university. He says when the students had tried to find out about the unforeseen circumstance, it turned out to be the Budget Consultation scheduled to take place at the graduation venue which is their Saweni campus on the 5th of April.

He says upon asking, they were told that the hall could not be set up for the graduation ceremony in one day.

He says they do not blame the Attorney General for this but the management of the University for poor planning because the Ministry would have consulted the University to ask if the date was suitable for them.

The student says they had raised the issue numerous times with the University Senate however they have decided to go ahead with the Budget Consultation.

He says if the graduation takes place on the 13th then the Graduate Diploma In Legal Practical class does not have any interest in attending because the whole purpose is defeated if their families cannot attend.

He says most students' parents will not be able to attend because their leave schedule has been mixed up because of the postponement.

He says when the concern was raised with the Attorney General, they realized that the postponement was not portrayed to him by the University of Fiji. The Minister has assured that he will speak to the management of the University on the matter.