The Level of Motivation Among Tahfiz Students in an Accelerated Program (Fast Track Spm) At a Private Secondary School

More than 1,000 Tahfiz institutions registered with the Department of Islamic Development of Malaysia (JAKIM) are private, reflecting a high number of students in the private sector. One of the significant obstacles faced by private Tahfiz institutions (PTIs) is that their certificates are generally internal rather than formally recognized at higher levels. In an effort to provide inclusive educational opportunities, an SPM-accredited program has been introduced for Tahfiz students. The Fast Track SPM (FTSPM) program was introduced in 2012 and has since expanded to several PTIs, private academic schools, and local universities. Previous studies have left a gap in understanding how PTI students respond holistically to the implementation of FTSPM, with prior studies conducted focusing primarily on pedagogical approaches in selected subjects. This study aims to address this gap by examining students’ acceptance in relation to their intrinsic motivation levels, guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT). This study employs an exploratory quantitative research design and was conducted at a private school in Muar. A total of 94 respondents participated in the survey, providing evidence that the program participants predominantly came from a Tahfiz background across various age groups. Overall, the findings indicate high satisfaction and low frustration regarding autonomy, relatedness, and novelty, as well as a moderate level of frustration in the competency domain, suggesting that the FTSPM program has effectively fulfilled their basic psychological needs. The program successfully fostered intrinsic motivation among the respondents, and the implementation should continue with attention to pedagogical or instructional strategies to address their lack of confidence in their competence

Fast Track SPM (FTSPM), Tahfiz students, intrinsic motivation, accelerated education, Self-Determination Theory (SDT)

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