Perception towards the Importance of Education among Muslim Women in Papar, Sabah (Malaysia)

Mansur, Kasim and Abd. Rahim, Dayangku Aslinah and Lim, Beatrice and Mahmud, Roslinah (2009): Perception towards the Importance of Education among Muslim Women in Papar, Sabah (Malaysia).

Abstract

Malaysian women have continued to play an increasingly important role in the national development of the country including greater participation in the economy and labor market. These improvements were made possible by the increasing numbers of females having access to education. Education provides better work opportunities and thus increases the level of income of an individual. Therefore education is perceived to be an important factor in human capital formation. In Islam, every Muslim is required to acquire knowledge as much as possible. Knowledge generates wealth. Thus, Islam condemns idleness, inactivity and poverty are condemned. A Muslim should be actively involved in the pursuit of increasing their knowledge and skill to ensure that their life is not of mere subsistence. This paper will look at the perception towards the importance of education among Muslim women. A total of 189 respondents were interviewed from selected kampongs in the district of Papar, Sabah. The data collected was analyzed and reported using descriptive statistics. About 42.4 percent respondents have obtained a diploma and degree level education. From the study, it is found that 78 percent of the total respondents perceived that education is very important. A total of 47.1 percent strongly agreed that education can influence future income. Essentially, a total of 78.8 per cent agreed that higher level of education leads to a higher level of income.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Women; Education
• Subjects: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I20 - General; J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J2 - Demand and Supply of Labor > J20 - General

References

Abdullah Yusuf Ali. (2001). The Holy Quran. Kuala Lumpur: Saba Islamic Media. Pp 565.

ADB. (1998). Women in Malaysia. Country Briefing Paper.

Broom, L., Jones, F.L., McDonnell, P. and T. Williams. (1980). The Inheritance of Inequality, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

Cotter D.A., DeFiore J., Hermsen J.M., Kowalewski B.M., Vanneman R. (1998). The demand for female labor. American Journal of Sociology, vol. 103 (6), pp. 1673-1712.

Crook, C.J. (1995). The role of mothers in the educational and status attainment of Australian men and women. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Sociology, vol. 31, pp. 45–73.

Evans, M. and Kelley, J. (2002). Family background and occupational success in Australia, Australian Social Monitor, vol. 5, pp. 73–78.

Evans, M. and Kelley, J. (2007). Changes of trends in women’s labor force participation in Australia:1984–2002,Social Science Research, Article in Press (2007).

Hakim, C. (1998). Developing a sociology for the twenty-first century: preference theory. British Journal of Sociology, vol. 49(1), pp. 137–143.

Heather, R. (2006). Do gains in test scores explain labor market outcomes? Economics of Education Review, vol. 25(4), pp. 430-446.

Inglehart, R. (1997). Modernization and Postmodernization: Cultural, Economic, and Political Change in 43 Societies. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

INTAN. (1994). Dasar-dasar Pembangunan Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: INTAN Malaysia. Pp. 89.

Juan, P-R and Cesar, R-G. (2003). Participation of married women in the European labor market and the “added worker effect”. Journal of Socio-Economics, 32 (4), pp. 429-446.

Kelley, J. (2001). Changing educational attainments of women and men in twentieth century Australia, Australian Social Monitor (4), pp. 63–66.

LPPKN. 2005. Handy Pop Sabah. Kuala Lumpur. Pp.48.

Nik Mohamed Affandi Nik Yusoff. (2001). Islam and Wealth: The Balanced Approach to Wealth Creation, Accumulation and Distribution. Kuala Lumpur: Pelanduk Publication.

Psacharopoulos, G. and Tzannatos, Z. (1991). Female labor force participation and education in Tzannatos, Z. (1999) Women and Labor Market Changes in the Global Economy: Growth Helps, Inequalities Hurt and Public Policy Matters. World Development, vol 27 (3), pp. 551-569.

Psacharopoulos, G. (1992). The Contribution of Education to Economic Growth. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. Pp. 477

Rosnani and Abd. Karim. (2000). Ekonomi dan Pendidikan dari Perspektif Islam. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Kuala Lumpur.

Schultz, T. W. (1963). The Economic Value of Education. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 39-42.

Tzannatos, Z. (1999). Women and Labor Market Changes in the Global Economy: Growth Helps, Inequalities Hurt and Public Policy Matters. World Development, vol. 27(3), pp. 551-569.

Weisbrod, B.A. (1962). Education and Investment in Human Capital. Journal of Political Economy, Supplement, vol. 70(5), pp. 106-123.