High School Students’ Motivation Needs and Their Intentions to Pursue Tertiary Education

Abstract

The study investigated the motivational needs of secondary school students and their intentions to pursue higher education. The descriptive survey method was utilised. This study’s sample was comprised of 137 students in grades four and five in secondary schools in Langkawi Island, Malaysia. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were utilised. The results indicated that these students have high educational aspirations concerning physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, self-esteem needs, and self-improvement needs. The survey also revealed that the need for self-improvement influences the educational ambitions of students pursuing tertiary education. Other motivational elements, including physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, and self-esteem needs, have no statistically significant relationship with students’ plans to pursue postsecondary education.

Keywords

• motivation needs
• secondary school students
• tertiary education