ANALISIS KRITERIA KELAYAKAN BANTUAN ZAKAT PENDIDIKAN TINGGI DI MALAYSIA: SOROTAN LITERATUR DAN ANALISIS KANDUNGAN LAMAN SESAWANG INSTITUSI ZAKAT

ANALYSIS OF ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ZAKAT ASSISTANCE IN MALAYSIA: A LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONTENT ANALYSIS OF ZAKAT INSTITUTIONS’ WEBSITES

Abstract

Bantuan zakat pendidikan tinggi merupakan salah satu agihan bagi membantu golongan asnaf mengakses dan meneruskan pengajian di institusi pengajian tinggi. Di Malaysia, institusi zakat menawarkan pelbagai skim bantuan pendidikan tinggi dengan kriteria kelayakan yang berbeza mengikut bidang kuasa, objektif skim dan kumpulan sasaran. Walaupun kajian terdahulu telah membincangkan agihan zakat kepada mahasiswa, kategori asnaf, mekanisme agihan dan keperluan kewangan pelajar, penelitian secara khusus yang memetakan kriteria kelayakan pada aras skim serta fungsinya dalam proses keputusan masih memerlukan perhatian. Justeru, kajian ini bertujuan mengenal pasti dan mengklasifikasikan kriteria kelayakan bantuan zakat pendidikan tinggi serta menganalisis persamaan dan kepelbagaian kriteria antara skim bantuan zakat pendidikan tinggi yang dikendalikan oleh institusi zakat di Malaysia. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif melalui sorotan literatur dan analisis kandungan laman sesawang institusi zakat yang terpilih. Dapatan mengenal pasti lima domain utama iaitu syariah dan status asnaf, demografi dan hubungan negeri, sosioekonomi dan keperluan kewangan, status dan kelayakan pendidikan, serta prestasi dan kelangsungan pengajian. Kriteria tersebut berfungsi sebagai syarat kelayakan asas, faktor keutamaan dan syarat kelangsungan, manakala pentadbiran dan pengesahan bertindak sebagai mekanisme sokongan. Kajian mencadangkan taksonomi dua dimensi yang mengintegrasikan domain kandungan dengan fungsi dalam proses membuat keputusan, sekali gus menyediakan kerangka analitik bagi memahami penentuan penerima serta menyokong tadbir urus zakat pendidikan tinggi yang lebih sistematik dan telus.

Higher education zakat assistance is a form of distribution intended to help eligible asnaf gain access to and continue their studies at higher education institutions. In Malaysia, zakat institutions offer various higher education assistance schemes with eligibility criteria that differ according to jurisdiction, scheme objectives, and target groups. Although previous studies have examined zakat distribution to university students, asnaf categories, distribution mechanisms, and students’ financial needs, limited attention has been given to systematically mapping eligibility criteria at the scheme level and examining their functions within the decision-making process. Therefore, this study aims to identify and classify the eligibility criteria for higher education zakat assistance and to analyse the similarities and variations in criteria across schemes administered by zakat institutions in Malaysia. This study adopts a qualitative approach involving a literature review and content analysis of selected zakat institutions’ websites. The findings identify five main domains,namely Shariah and asnaf status, demographics and state affiliation, socioeconomic status and financial need, educational status and eligibility, and academic performance and continuity of study. These criteria function as basic eligibility requirements, prioritisation factors, and continuation requirements, while administration and verification serve as supporting mechanisms. The study proposes a two-dimensional taxonomy that integrates content domains with their functions in the decision-making process, thereby providing an analytical framework for understanding recipient determination and supporting more systematic and transparent governance of higher education zakat assistance.