One of the many things the pandemic was able to highlight was the disparity between students who were privileged to continue with their education, while there were others that struggled due to the many factors brought about by online classes.
However, this is not to put the blame on those privileged but rather shifting the perspective onto the educational system that clearly prioritizes the privileged over others.
As of late, the Internet has been talking about the certain advantages other people have as leverage over most. One of those is the classic: nepotism.
The New York Magazine even made a cover about Hollywood’s nepotism babies, thus pointing out how relationships and connections definitely help others advance further with much ease. Not straying away from that, locally, we too have a glimpse of nepotism. Just by looking at the political dynasties we have here, it is obvious nepotism benefits certain people.
Tackling privilege, a discourse has been going around Twitter for the past week about how lower classes do not have access to some opportunities those studying in more prestigious schools do– such as internships and better facilities.
are they really that good or is their resume that impressive because they're rich enough to study in prestigious schools and do internships abroad—opportunities and privileges the lower classes simply don't have?
— katrína *✧･｡:*･ﾟ★｡･☆ (@akrvitor) March 13, 2023
Although yes, saying this does not take away the fact that many of these students get ahead because of their skills and their own hard work nor does someone studying at a prestigious school not putting in the work get a free pass, however, qualifications sure do help with higher chances of being successful.
Chiming into this, many in fact, acknowledge that privilege indeed makes some people shine more than others as attending prestigious schools at a young age certainly bridges students to not just better education and facilities, but also gives them the direct opportunity to apply to better universities and colleges, not just here but abroad.
Joining a conference in Ateneo made me realize that there are kids who study in international schools since grade school, highschool students who go to Harvard just bec they can, and bec of that they get good internships when they reached college https://t.co/IEeG9Ignpk
— spring sunshine (@notmarieclaire) March 13, 2023
Para sa bayan ba talaga?
Because of this, the Internet wants people the face the reality that even some students that get to attend the University of the Philippines get this chance because they are able to prepare their resumes and study for the UPCAT through resources only available to those that can afford them like review centers.
this can be said about a lot of rich kids in UP.
one could argue that they passed the UPCAT purely on their skills but what really got you your skills? private schooling, tutoring, up-to-date resources and review centres. https://t.co/vcO9xfhdjF
— dom (●'◡'●) (@domisshortfor) March 14, 2023
Some even point out legacy students that attend the university as they have been pressured by their families, with members who have attended the university during their college days, to attend the school.
Now that doesn’t immediately mean having a mother and father or siblings that attended the university will ensure your spot, but some of these legacy students come from already-established families with generational wealth that the Internet believes defeats the whole point of calling UP students “iskolar ng bayan” as these students could easily get quality education elsewhere that they can afford.
An article from the Los Baños Times encapsulates this sentiment, noting that rich applicants to what supposedly is a state university, have the “income advantage”.
True enough, the blame shouldn’t all be placed on privileged students because, at the end of the day, everybody wants to have the best opportunities for themselves, but having an educational system that is deemed to be anti-poor does make it harder for others.
Sana hindi i-take itong tweet in a bad light kasi it's true naman—privilege can take you places. It's not a matter of who deserves it more, but more on the reality of the situation na ang daming mahihirap na walang access to these opportunities (re: UP) when they need it the most https://t.co/K2kME9gVu1
— Andrew (@plzfanku) March 15, 2023
This is definitely not to talk badly about those that have the privilege because granted, they did not choose to be born with it but simply acknowledging the privilege you have and doing good with it certainly won’t hurt.
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