Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives\u2019 Commission X, Lalu\nHadrian Irfani, has urged that protest actions related to the free\nnutritious meal programme (MBG) should not involve school students. Lalu\nwas responding to allegations that the Batam City Education Office\nmobilised students in the area to participate in a rally supporting MBG\non 21 June 2026.<\/p>\n
Lalu disagreed with involving students in MBG protests because it\nwould disrupt the learning process at schools. \u201cWe do not want these\nstudents to take to the streets,\u201d he said at the parliament building in\nJakarta on Wednesday, 24 June 2025.<\/p>\n
According to the National Awakening Party politician, aspirations\nshould simply be conveyed by teachers or school principals to the local\neducation office. The local education office would then forward them to\nthe coordinator of the National Nutrition Agency. This method is\nconsidered more effective and ensures students obtain their right to\neducation optimally.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn principle, such movements must not affect the teaching and\nlearning process. They will disrupt students from carrying out their\nactual duties at school,\u201d Lalu stated.<\/p>\n
He said Commission X had asked the Ministry of Primary and Secondary\nEducation to investigate reports of student mobilisation in Batam City\nto participate in a rally supporting the free nutritious meal programme.\nHe claimed the news also came as a surprise to the Ministry of Primary\nand Secondary Education. The ministry then coordinated with the Batam\nCity Education Office and the Riau Islands Provincial Government.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of primary and junior high school students in Batam City\ntook part in an aspiration parade supporting the free nutritious meal\nproject on Sunday, 21 June 2026. The parade by primary and junior high\nschool students was held in front of the Batam City Legislative Council\nbuilding.<\/p>\n
They carried banners and posters supporting President Prabowo\nSubianto\u2019s programme. Some of them were seen wearing school uniforms.\nLike a typical demonstration, the rally supporting MBG also featured\nspeeches from a command vehicle prepared by the organisers.<\/p>\n
A teacher who declined to be named said there was no official\ninvitation for the parade; invitations were only circulated via WhatsApp\nmessages in school groups. \u201cWe were also shocked, especially since the\nevent was on a Sunday, we were forced to attend,\u201d the teacher said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Head of the Batam City Education Office Hendri Arulan\nconfirmed deploying teachers and students in the parade supporting MBG.\nHis reason was that recently many parents had protested because the MBG\nprogramme in Batam had stalled due to a budget freeze.<\/p>\n
He also confirmed gathering school teachers to discuss the issue of\nparental complaints. Consequently, the meeting initiated the holding of\nthe parade supporting MBG.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis (the parade supporting MBG) is the appropriate thing for us to\ndo, to convey input to our colleagues in the Legislative Council to be\npassed on to the central government, that this MBG programme is good,\u201d\nhe told journalists during the parade.<\/p>\n
Hendri did not respond to complaints from teachers who felt compelled\nto attend the parade. He also stressed that he did not oblige teachers\nor students to come; the invitation was only for those willing to\nparticipate.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-commission-x-urges-free-meal-protests-not-to-involve-students-1782287887", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }