Lecturer faces hurdles with students’ religious belief over culture and tradition

Language and culture are supposed to be practiced and safeguarded for future generations, says Apolonia Tamata. The University of the South Pacific (USP) coordinator of Fijian Studies said this during the Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge Conference at Fiji National University FNU Namaka Campus in Nadi today.
It was her response to a take by the University of Fiji lecturer for the Centre for Indigenous Studies (CIS), Mosese Baseisei.
He said the big challenge he faced with his first-year student was their Christian denomination beliefs.
“Some of the Christian denomination beliefs fundamentally opposes our culture,” Mr Baseisei said.
“One of the big challenges I faced, was my students justifying their Christian beliefs over the culture and tradition taught at uni,” he said.
“Some of the Christian denomination viewed kava or yaqona as something that is unclean and sinful. I taught them the traditional presentation and asked them for a practical exercise during a class and none was present.
“When asked, they said the beliefs of their churches doesn’t agree with them taking part in the activity.”
The Unifiji lecturer said this worried him so he began asking academics what could be done because this would lead to eroding of culture and tradition practices.
Ms Tamata discussed about the importance of safeguarding the language, culture and indigenous knowledge. She said safeguarding these should be a covenant.

Feedback: mereleki.nai@fijisun.com.fj