MOE: 1,517 school children lost parents to Covid-19

 

Some 1,517 schoolchildren have lost at least one parent to Covid-19 since March last year until this month, the Education Ministry said.

As such, the ministry said it has formed a ministry-level special taskforce to care for the welfare of these students.

"Various aids have been channelled to them on an urgent basis, including aid from Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pelajar Miskin and food aid through the supplementary food programme, while those who qualify are enrolled in Education Ministry-run boarding schools," the ministry said, as cited by Harian Metro.

To date, more than 13,000 people have died of Covid-19 in Malaysia.

On Aug 13, then women, family and community development minister Rina Harun said 33 children have lost both parents to the virus.

They include eight siblings in Bukit Beruntung, Rawang, who lost both parents to Covid-19 within a span of three days. 

The eldest of the siblings, Nazurah Nabilah Yajeed, is 19.

The government and government-linked firm Boustead Holdings have stepped in to assist the siblings, who are now in the care of an unemployed aunt. 

Last month, five siblings in Klang aged five to 21 lost both parents to the virus in a span of a week. They are now living with their aunt.  - Mkini