FNU Lecturers Under Investigation Over Alleged Grade Tampering

Several lecturers at the Fiji National University are understood to be under investigation following serious allegations of tampering with student grades across multiple courses.

The investigation was launched after discrepancies were identified between students’ recorded coursework and examination marks and the final grades awarded to them for more than one unit.

FNU has confirmed that an investigation is underway.

The allegations have the potential to develop into a major issue for Fiji’s tertiary education sector, particularly if the investigation finds that academic records were altered or that the problem extended across multiple students or courses.

FNU’s own regulations treat interference with academic records seriously, identifying tampering or attempting to tamper with examination scripts, class work, grades or class records as academic dishonesty and gross misconduct.

Academics spoken to by Duavata News, both within FNU and at other tertiary institutions, have expressed serious concern about the allegations and their potential implications for confidence in Fiji’s tertiary education system.

The matter could be particularly significant for programmes leading into regulated professions, such as law, where academic transcripts and individual course results can play an important role in graduation, further study and professional admission.

Duavata News has sought comments from Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro and Permanent Secretary for Education Navin Raj. Neither had responded to our questions at the time of publication.

The investigation remains ongoing, with concerned parents now watching closely as another scandal unfolds at Fiji’s national university.