Nepotism in Algeria

      "Fed up", is an expression that is painfully uttered by the people in my society every single second. A year ago, my cousin told me how his life collapsed around him, and how he was drowning in great despair. His whole life was one of unhappiness and misery. Even if Mohamed's dream, to become a teacher, is too simple, he couldn’t fulfill it. Nepotism destroyed every beautiful corner which reflected his wonderful relaxing dreams that he had ever visualized. Nepotism or as we usually call it here, “les épaules,”(shoulders) is a wrecking and widespread phenomenon in the Algerian society, which is drawing a bitter reality for most Algerians, for it is a pen that creates a marvelous shining future for some while others are standing outside and screaming out painfully, but no-one cares. It's high time to talk about this destroying phenomenon which is causing every part of our society to become a nightmare for millions.

     Nepotism has become the golden key by which people can open up success doors, and it is that big gate through which they can find the castle of happiness. Recently, the final results of competitions and exams lead the Algerians to look for those standards that officials are following in choosing the winners. I personally sometimes shockingly wonder whether it is God that bestows his blessings on those exam takers to succeed. Most importantly, the Algerian people have a very interesting view of nepotism, as they have become proudly boastful of being part of it and having the clout needed for placing family members in positions of power.

     Even if nepotism is the most dreadful thing which must be deeply cut off from any society ,  it has been seen as the only way which may help people get what they want and reach a position of influence at the expense of those poor unlucky individuals who are gifted, truly qualified, and willing and able to perform the job. From my personal experience, the only thing I had ever wanted to be for my whole life was a writer; therefore, I kept writing and trying really hard to get my stories published until that day, which was so devastating, on which I faced a strong rejection from a publisher who told me that he will never ever think to help me get my stories published, though he had never taken a look at them. I was incredibly disappointed. For a while, I thought seriously to stop writing because I had no way to win. My father is not rich, and I do not have strong clout by which I can be successful since the power is that of money not talents. That publisher was the only one who could help me at that time, but he did not because he selected other girls he personally knew in order to publish their stories. From that day on, I stopped writing short stories although it was like a safe home for me, and the worthiest thing that I liked most. My story is a trivial one compared to other billions of stories of injustice that are occurring every single day in here. Therefore, nepotism is harming those people who strive to succeed by killing their innovative spirits.

     This form of corruption has strong potentials to destroy the country since there are thousands of people who should not be in their roles, and that surely harms the economy of our country. Obviously, some key positions are filled with incompetent individuals who do not do their jobs in the right way since their educational level, for instance, does not fit the necessities of their work resulting in them showing low production, and low quality of work.  

     An infinite number of academic competitions were cancelled since the high executives changed the winners' names by other incompetent and inexperienced persons who were not the right persons for those jobs at all. An academic competition of employing teachers was cancelled in Galma, Algeria, which was taken in August 2012. After the official display of the winners' list in September 2013, a group of those who did not succeed went on protest saying that it was not the right selection of winners. Another similar story happened in Oran where there were eight men who protested against the “Sonelgaz” institution because they were replaced by other persons who were not better qualified in the requested field, and who got that job because of their family ties with the working officials there. The tragedy now is that we elect public officials to serve their relatives and their close personal friends, but not ordinary people who might possess better qualifications. In short, no one cares about other people, especially those broken and deemed “imperfect.”

     As a student in the Teacher Education College, I can assure that students fall prey to nepotism, too. Algerian universities have become famous places for killing students' talents and potential. Even if students can powerfully make change in the world that is around them, they have not been given the chance to. Interestingly, even marks are deliberately given through nepotism. Additionally, most teachers are giving preferential treatment for those they know personally; this phenomenon has become like a routine and normal story for us. My classmates and I usually call those who have personal relationships with teachers the “upper class,” while we call ourselves the “peasants,” or the “lower class,” because it is like we have returned to the age of feudalism of medieval Europe and its social ranks. It is a serious problem when it comes to education and places where we are supposed to learn the right meaning of honesty and to be trustworthy individuals. Students' future is likely to be so clear as they will end up “standing outside by the wall” and be honorably called "Hittist, "which is a popular Algerian word referring to unemployed people.

     Despite the fact that Algeria is a country of plentiful resources like oil, most people are unemployed and do not benefit from the country’s wealth. Youth unemployment rate in Algeria increased to 25.20 percent in 2014 from 24.80 percent in 2013, reported by the “Office National des Statistiques” (ONS). In March 2013, nearly 10,000 people in Ouragla rallied calling for jobs and protesting the corruption of government officials . They said that the government is marginalizing them even though the city of Ouragla has a flourishing oil industry . 

     One other consequence of nepotism can be seen in a housing policy that resulted in many privileged people ending up getting three or four apartments while real homeless, needy people are still living in slums. All members of one family usually clean, cook, eat and sleep in one room. Millions are suffering in one small room with grey and cracked ceilings, facing the cold winter and spending long summer days under the hot sun. Even if a housing policy has been created for those severely deprived families, nepotism changed all the strict laws in our society .

     In the United States of America, if someone has a medical emergency, they would just call 911 and receive all the help they need, but here we have to look up for a connection which paves the way for us to get the consultation of a doctor or receive prompt caring .

    The government must serve all people equally and fairly and should not create a family atmosphere which is built upon the officials' relatives and friends. Let's try for once to form a society that is based on competence, potential, honesty and talent, not on clout, and hopefully make a change for the better.

Kenza Salmi

Author's Note

Your feedback is a very important thing for me. I would appreciate it if you give me some pieces of advice.

Reviews

[Virtual Phun]

I give this a full 100 points because not only can I not find anything wrong with it, but this piece has also impressed and moved me beyond. I truly think this was a lot more enjoyable than I had thought it to be. It's very well-written, factual and informative. I enjoyed it, I'm surprised!

I have to say I really sympathized with you when you talked about the harsh rejection letter you received from the publisher and thus quitting writing, because after reading this I strongly encourage and hope that you NEVER stop writing. I think its the publisher's loss because your writing skills are wonderful. Please, keep writing.

As you've guessed, I am of Arabic origins as well. And unfortunately, where I am, nepotism is a huge issue as well. Your essay addresses this matter smartly and perfectly - you've hit the nail on the head. I can't add more to this. This is a great read, thank you for writing it.

[kenza salmi]

Thank you so much for your kind comment...I do appreciate what you have said.

Nepotism had become a dictator in most countries all over the world. So we can do sth concerning such a dreadful thing!! Even by writing articles about it !

Again, thank you so much for everything.

[Duncan Brown]

France France France...............

[kenza salmi]

History talks...Return back to books and stuff like this to know my answer!

[Duncan Brown]

Mother Mother Mother.........................

[Char'els Beanland]

Your talent in this piece is very impressive in my thinking. I think you should try to go on line a publish everything you have ever written and see where it goes with you. In old America they would do the following to see if they are ready to be eaten, they would throw one or two of them against the wall to see if they stick to it. If they do then they are ready to be eaten. The idea here is for you to throw ever thing against the internet wall and see if they stick (self publishing). You have nothing to lose and the whole world to gain if it does. Start sending stories to papers and your thoughts on your country to news papers to see if they would publish them for you.

[kenza salmi]

...It's really so kind of you, Charles...You really made me laugh...Thank you so much for you pieces of advice and your mervalous comment...

[PenguinEmpiress]

it truly is as bad as you say. It horrid to think that the world of the 21st century is like this , but. it is. I honestly hope you never stop writing, your writing is from your concern for the world and there aren't that many people in the world anymore that actually care, and those that do, sometimes don't have the power of influence to make a change in the world.

It's horrible to see that the only way to get people to see what's happening, is to actually get someone famous to tell them what's happening, and really that's disgraceful. The fact that we can't even see what's going on before us, yet when some celebrate goes up and says something everyone just seem to go "oh their right" and it's horrid that we've come to this.

I thought that humans were supposed to be the smartest beings on earth. Guess not...

However the way you've written this is excellently done, it flows and has heart and meaning to it and the fact that you used real facts about what's happening in Algeria, is really great, as it give people that figure in their head. I unfortunately don't know the struggles as I'm from Australia, but i understand where you're coming from. I understand what your saying. It really is a incredible piece of writing. :)

[kenza salmi]

...You have made me extremly happy cuz my ultimate goal is to make people know n live, even for a moment, what we are living...It is really shameful to live with people who don't care of one another, the strongest is the one who is supposed to live a joyful life while others' are , now, seen as if they were created to watch such a farce...All I want is to ruin such thoughts and create a world that is built upon specific values and EQUALITY..I wish that we could do this one day.

Thank you so much for making time to read my humble piece of writing..and thanks a billion for your support. Wish you all the best.

[I am that I am]

Governments are unstable; they are made from the unsteady hands of mankind. When a man puts his faith in mankind; he suffers disappointment; for the hands of mankind are not strong enough to move the earth around the sun. How could a man know how to move mankind when he knows not how to move himself? When a man builds a tower, how long should it be before the forces of nature decay it into dust? How long shall the government built by the hands of mankind stand before it is knocked down by the test of time? Faith in mankind is temporary; while faith in that which is beyond mankind is everlasting. Worry not for the state of the government; for all that is built shall fall, and there is no stopping its inevitable collapse. One shall fall and the next shall rise. When the next falls, another will take its place. Focus on the movement brings suffering and dizziness; focus on the stillness brings peace and stability everlasting. Great work, kenza. You have the gift of a very analytical, well meaning, and critical thinking mind.

[kenza salmi]

...I do like what you have said, well said !

Thanks for reviewing my works and for your kind words.