The Influence of Urban Poverty on Students’ Academic Optimism: Does Government Assistance Play a Role?

Authors

  • Azam Othman Kulliyyah of Education
  • Hairuddin Mohd Ali Kulliyyah of Education
  • Suhailah Hussien Kulliyyah of Education
  • Moha Asri Abdullah Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences
  • Norbaiduri Ruslan Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
  • Merah Souad Kulliyyah of Education

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31436/ijes.v9i4.378

Keywords:

Malaysia, Government assistance programmes , Students’ perceptions of poverty, Academic optimism, Urban poverty, Secondary school

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between urban poor students’ perceptions of government assistance and poverty and their level of academic optimism. A survey was administered to 500 urban poor students in two major Malaysian cities, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. The students were identified and randomly selected for the study with the help of their respective schools. AMOS version 24 was used to test the hypothesised model using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings revealed a significant direct association between students’ perceptions of poverty and academic optimism. However, no significant indirect influence was found between students’ perceptions of poverty and their academic optimism through government assistance. These findings suggest that government assistance programmes are not necessarily a contributor to students’ academic optimism. The lack of any significant influence between students’ perceptions of poverty and academic optimism, through government assistance, may indicate a need to re-evaluate the existing assistance programmes rendered by the government to students in the urban poor category.

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Author Biographies

Azam Othman, Kulliyyah of Education

Azam Othman is associate professor at Faculty of Education, International Islamic University
Malaysia. He holds a Master’s degree in Educational leadership from the Western Michigan
University, USA. He earned his doctoral degree in Educational Management from the
University of Sheffield, UK. His main research interests are in the field of sociology of
education, Educational leadership, and integrated education. Corresponding Author can be
contacted through E-mail: azam_othman@iium.edu.my

Hairuddin Mohd Ali, Kulliyyah of Education

Hairuddin Mohd Ali has a PhD in Services Marketing Management and currently serves as an
academic in International Islamic University Malaysia. Presently his interest is in Educational
Management & Leadership particularly in Strategic Leadership. Email:
hairuddin@iium.edu.my

Suhailah Hussien, Kulliyyah of Education

Suhailah Hussien has a PhD in Education and works as an Associate Professor of Education
at the Department of Social Foundations and Educational Leadership, Kulliyyah of
Education, International Islamic University Malaysia. Her main research interests are in the
field of critical pedagogy, sociology of education, and multicultural education. E-mail:
suhailah@iium.edu.my

Moha Asri Abdullah, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences

Moha Asri Abdullah has a Ph.D in Economic Development and works as a Professor of Small
Business at the Department of Economics, International Islamic University Malaysia. His main
research interests are in the field of small business management, economic development,
entrepreneurship and halal business. E-mail: mosri@iium.edu.my

Norbaiduri Ruslan, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences

Norbaiduri Ruslan is Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication, International
Islamic University Malaysia. She holds a Master’s degree in Communication with
specialization in Telecommunication Management from Western Michigan University
Malaysia. Her PhD in Communication was awarded by the University of Sheffield, UK. Her
research interests include new media effects, online gaming addiction and intercultural
relations.Email : norbaiduri@iium.edu.my

Merah Souad, Kulliyyah of Education

Dr. Merah Souad is an Assistant Professor, researcher and Head of Department of Social
Foundation & Educational Leadership, Kulliyyah (Faculty) of Education, International Islamic
University Malaysia (IIUM). She focuses on issues related to sociology of education, history,
philosophy of education, education in emergencies and curriculum. Email: souad@iium.edu.my

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Published

2021-12-31

How to Cite

Othman, A., Mohd Ali, H., Hussien, S. ., Abdullah, M. A. ., Ruslan, N. ., & Souad, M. (2021). The Influence of Urban Poverty on Students’ Academic Optimism: Does Government Assistance Play a Role?. IIUM Journal of Educational Studies, 9(4), 37–57. https://doi.org/10.31436/ijes.v9i4.378

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