A student in Fiji has had his government scholarship reinstated after he was reportedly stripped of it for becoming involved in politics.

Fiji media are reporting that the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Board has reinstated the scholarship of Tamani Seruiraduvatu after reviewing his case.

There was an outcry when the second year University of the South Pacific student lost the scholarship and was ordered to pay back all the money he’d received.

The Fiji Times reports the board says it had received incorrect information about the case.

University of the South Pacific student Seruiraduvatu had earlier been told to pay back every cent of a scholarship he has received in what is claimed to be a punishment for campaigning for a political candidate.

Pacific Media Watch reported last week that Roshika Deo, a candidate for the opposition Be The Change party, accused the government’s Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Board of “political persecution” after Seruiraduvatu, 21, had his university scholarship terminated, allegedly for “associating” himself “in political agendas”.

“This action further diminishes the credibility of having a free and fair election, if young people continue to be targeted, which is threatening our political autonomy and creating a climate of fear and intimidation,” said Deo.

The incident was building as a huge set back for the ruling regime in its efforts to be seen as operating a far and free political environment in the run up to September’s much-anticipated democratic elections.

The Fiji Times quoted Seruiraduvatu as saying he was only exercising his right to free political association when he joined Deo’s party as a volunteer.

“I don’t see any violation or any wrong doing of my involvement in Roshika Deo’s ‘Be the Change Campaign’ as I was clearly just exercising my political right.

“All I ask at this moment is for the reinstating of my scholarship,” he said.

Pacific Media Watch has published of a copy of the original letter from the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Board to Seruiraduvatu.

It states that students can only learn if there is an “an appropriate sense of order that allows a student to develop in an environment that is both safe and free of disruption”.

The letter goes on to say: “It has come to our attention that you have been associating yourself in political agendas without taking into consideration your obligation with the Ministry of i-Taukei Affairs (MTA) which is to pursue the BCommerce (Hotel Management) .

“MTA has zero tolerance level of behaviour that contravenes the above, both on and off campus.

“Therefore MTA reserves the right to terminate your scholarship if a report is received from your institutes, or from a law enforcement agency concerning a breach of regulation.”

Seruiraduvatu is then told that his BComm degree has been terminated immediately and under a clause of his bond agreement he would have to reimburse the government through the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Board the monetary value of the amount spent on his studies.”

Deo last week on her Facebook page mounted a social media campaign calling for the reinstatement Seruiraduvatu’s scholarship.

However, yesterday Tertiary Scholarship Loans Board chairman Dixon Seeto said upon further investigation, the board found that basis of information which resulted in the termination was incorrect.

“The TSLB had terminated his scholarship on the basis of information given to it by the education institution involved with the student,” he said. ”

Seeto said the board relied on institutions for advice and feedback on students’ performance as per their scholarship conditions.

As such, the board has decided to reinstate the scholarship of the student.

“The board expects all scholarship students to adhere to the conditions of their contract and follow their study programme,” Seeto said.

“This means that they must attend all instructional classes as required by the institution. After all, the scholarship which is funded by government is intended for this purpose.”

However, Seeto said the board in no way restricted the activities of scholarship holders outside of their study programme.