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Nepotism is a very common practice in today’s world but we hardly ever question its existence in the field of education. Here’s how nepotism affects education.
Nepotism is a practice we all accept has no role to play in today’s world. This practice of people in high positions favouring their own friends and family, instead of those who may be more qualified or talented is something that has been happening since the beginning of human civilization.
From kings and queens in our history, wealth, opportunities, and positions of power have always been passed on within the family. Today, we see this most commonly in Bollywood, politics or business.
Actors’ children become actors, political parties are headed by the children eventually, and industrial empires are passed on from father to son.
While nepotism can be spotted in these instances, it also can be found hiding in plain sight. One such hiding spot nepotism has found is our education system. And it is present in all layers of interactions, whether it’s at an administration level, or inside a classroom, or in student councils.
Throughout our school and college lives, we have experienced nepotism in one form or another.
While admission into government institutions in India is quite clear of this problem, the same can’t be said for many private institutions. As they are less monitored, there are many instances where institutions will prefer choosing children of the professors and other staff of the same college.
In these cases, the students who come from non-academic backgrounds will have it tougher to get into private colleges and universities.
Another example is how major Universities in the USA behave. Graduates from top universities will send their children to their alma mater. By providing huge donations, these parents will be able to secure a seat in the college over others, who could be first-generation college-goers or even international students.
Teachers playing favorites
Teachers are human beings too and it’s too easy to fault them for everything that happens in the school. However, most teachers play favorites. They prefer giving certain students more opportunities to perform, participate in extracurricular activities, and even represent the school.
Often the students being preferred are the more academically capable children and sometimes wards of other teachers in the school.
This plays a detrimental role in many students’ lives. While some students may not have the ability to succeed in academics, they may be talented performers, speakers, or athletes. However, due to the way teachers show favoritism in classrooms, these students miss out on the opportunities they deserve.
Nepotism faced early in our careers
Early on in our careers, nepotism gives unfair advantages to the well-connected folks. Imagine you’re a student in an engineering program. Everyone has to do the required internships to gain experience and get an understanding of the professional workspace.
A well-connected family member or friend will help in this tremendously. They will be able to provide you an opening into the organization they are working for. This won’t be the case for everyone.
The same applies to full-time roles too. Most companies recruit based on references. Having a powerful reference will let you know about any internal openings and also will provide you with a way in. In the corporate world, whichever position you’re trying out for, it’s not about what you know, but about who you know.
How to use nepotism in education to your advantage
Such forms of nepotism have been ingrained in our societies and most people don’t recognize or consider these behaviors to be biased and harmful.
And while it may be tempting to hope for a world free of nepotism, it would be far more practical to find ways to use it to your advantage. Here are a few ways to do so
1. Use social media well
Not all of us are born into well-connected families from well-connected societies. However, that should not be a problem in this day and age where social media is a great equalizer.
Make your profiles on Instagram, Quora, LinkedIn, Twitter, and start connecting with different people in the companies you want to join or alumni of colleges you wish to enroll in.
A profile with good posts, well-documented opinions, and a showcase of your interests will make it easier for you to rub shoulders with the connected crowds.
2. Be part of college clubs
College is a great time and place to start building connections. College clubs and groups often organize events wherein students get chances to interact with outsiders from different industries and walk of life.
Making an impression in these events and in other college communities will definitely kick start your network.
3. Attend meet-ups and conferences
Meet-ups and conferences are a great way to meet people from different organizations. If you’re out of college, then this is the best way to build a network.
Attend meet-ups, participate in conferences and you will get a chance to interact with people in different positions and companies. It’s at startup conferences that most entrepreneurs find investors.
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Nepotism isn’t going away anytime soon, and as we can see, is not always a bad thing. There are ways to get ahead in this world, even if you’re not born with a silver spoon in your mouth. But if you do find yourself in a position where you are providing opportunities to others, make sure you do it fairly.
Source: Indiatoday
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