On 30 July 2026, the Constitutional Court (MK), through Decision\nNumber 40\/PUU-XXIV\/2026, ruled that the budget for the Free Nutritious\nMeal (MBG) programme must be separated from the education function\nbudget allocation by the preparation of the 2028 State Budget (APBN) at\nthe latest. This decision concludes the legal debate regarding whether\nthe MBG budget can be counted as part of fulfilling the constitutional\nmandate regarding education budget allocation.<\/p>\n
As a decision of the Constitutional Court, it is final and binding.\nThe Government and the House of Representatives (DPR) are obliged to\nimplement it. In a constitutional state, respect for the decisions of\nthe constitutional court is part of respect for the constitution itself.\nHowever, respecting the decision does not mean halting academic\ndiscussion. On the contrary, the ruling opens a wider space to\nre-examine a fundamental question: what is actually meant by the\n\u2018education function\u2019 in the management of the State Budget?<\/p>\n
Discussions regarding the education function often get trapped in an\nadministrative approach, assuming that every rupiah spent by the\nMinistry of Education is automatically an education budget, while\nexpenditures by other ministries are outside it. In modern budgeting\nsystems, such as the international Classification of the Functions of\nGovernment (COFOG), the budget function is determined by the primary\npurpose of the expenditure, not by the organisation spending it. For\ninstance, if the Ministry of Public Works builds a school, that\nexpenditure should be classified under the education function because\nits purpose is educational provision.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the MBG programme, managed by the National Nutrition\nAgency (BGN), should be viewed through this lens. While BGN\u2019s\nadministrative costs (salaries, office supplies, etc.) are not education\nfunctions, the MBG for students specifically should be categorised as\nauxiliary educational services. Modern economic theory on human capital\nsuggests that human resource quality is shaped by a combination of\neducation, health, and nutrition. Malnutrition affects brain\ndevelopment, concentration, and academic achievement, ultimately\nimpacting future labour productivity.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, this academic discussion is not occurring in a vacuum.\nAmidst the constitutional debate, the public has been shocked by alleged\ncorruption cases related to the implementation of the MBG programme.\nSuch cases create negative perceptions that affect how the public views\nthe budgeting of the programme. While governance issues and budget\nclassification are conceptually distinct, in public policy, perception\nis often as powerful as substance. The Constitutional Court\u2019s decision\nis now a reality, and while the legal mandate must be respected, the\nneed for a diverse academic perspective\u2014spanning constitutional law,\neducational economics, and public administration\u2014remains vital.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/debate-continues-over-free-nutritious-meal-programme-and-education-budget-1785516975", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }