ZAKAT AND EDUCATIONAL EQUITY OF URBAN POOR CHILDREN

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the zakat distribution to the poor Muslim children in the urban area of Lembah Kelang, Malaysia for assisting them achieving equity in education. The methodology used in this research was qualitative study conducted through interview and document analysis with Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS) and Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (MAIWP), the formal organizing bodies for Zakat management in Selangor and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. The findings show that zakat has been distributed to improve the educational equity for the urban poor and needy Muslim children by providing education inputs in the forms of i) learning and study materials, (ii) school related personal needs, (iii) adequate living and learning facilities and (iv) morale or motivation support. As a results, most of the children experienced improvement in their academic performance, increment of school entry rates among young children and reduction of dropout rates for those in both the primary and secondary level of schooling. Overall, this study highlighted the role of zakat institution to support government in handling the issue of educational equity particularly for the Muslim poor children in urban area. As an implication, this research has upgrades the level of zakat institution in assisting government to realize the education policy and further provide the Muslim urban poor children with better academic opportunities in their life.