EDUCATIONAL EQUITY FOR MALAYSIAN URBAN POOR MUSLIM STUDENTS

Abstract

This study aims at determining the contribution of zakat in improving educational equity of Muslim urban poor students in Malaysia. This research was carried out based on quantitative methodology using a survey questionnaire on a sample of 462 urban poor students. The students were recipients of full assistance from zakat institutions in the cities of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and state of Selangor. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics of Spearman correlations and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Based on analysis, respondents were highly agreed that zakat funds had contributed to the input, process and output of their education. A moderately strong correlation was found between input from zakat and the education output of the poor students (r = 0.598, p < 0.05) similar with the correlation between education process provided by zakat and the education output of the poor students (r = 0.604, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in education output of the poor students for five categories of family members’ highest level of education [χ2(4, N = 462) = 5.412, p = 0.05]. The study highlighted the contribution of zakat in improving educational equity among Muslim urban poor students. It is also emphasized the role of zakat institutions in assisting the government in implementing education policy and providing better opportunity for education of urban poor students