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...