1,517 Schoolchildren In Malaysia Have Lost Their Parents To COVID-19
According to the Ministry of Education, the numbers recorded are from March 2020 to August this year.
By Sadho Ram — 25 Aug 2021, 01:55 PM
A total of 1,517 students across the country lost either one or both their parents to COVID-19 from March 2020 until August this year
This was revealed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in a statement to Harian Metro yesterday, 24 August.
Taking note of the situation, MOE said that appropriate defensive measures need to be taken.
"Although this number is considered small compared to five million students nationwide at this time, the issue of the welfare of all children of the COVID-19 victims is still considered serious. MOE through the State Education Department (JPN), district education office (PPD), and the school management are always sensitive to the fate of students who have lost their parents," the Malay daily quoted the ministry as saying.
MOE said that it will ensure the welfare of the children is taken care of by providing protection to them to ensure their future is secured
The ministry has taken the initiative to open placements for children in need of protection due to COVID-19 in seven institutions according to zones throughout the country, the report said.
On 13 August, Rina Harun — who was the women, family, and community development minister in the previous Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration — had said 33 children have lost both parents
According to Malaysiakini, they included 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.
