Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister for Basic and Secondary Education\n(Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu\u2019ti said the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG)\nis an integral part of strengthening students\u2019 character education\nthrough the 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children (KAIH).<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on collaborative research with LabSosio UI, the MBG programme\nhelps students increase learning motivation, provides a pleasurable\nexperience for pupils both through the products and during communal\nmeals, and also provides opportunities for students from low\nsocio-economic groups to obtain nutritious meals,\u201d Mu\u2019ti said in a\nwritten statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Nationally, he said the programme has reached 49.6 million students\n(93 percent) of the total 53.4 million students across Indonesia, spread\nacross 288,845 schools (66.5 percent).<\/p>\n
The government, he said, has also distributed MBG education modules\nand implementation guidelines integrated with strengthening character\neducation to all schools.<\/p>\n
Mu\u2019ti added that the education budget for 2026 is projected to rise\nto above Rp100 trillion to support the revitalisation of around 70\nthousand schools and the strengthening of digital learning through the\nDigital Interactive Board (PID) or Interactive Flat Panel (IFP).<\/p>\n
\u201cOur principle is: what you cannot take everything, do not throw away\neverything. If there are obstacles in MBG implementation, we will keep\nimproving it to ensure 100 percent of Indonesian children obtain the\nright to adequate nutrition alongside good character education,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In line with the programme\u2019s massive coverage in schools,\nCoordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan also highlighted the\ncorrelation between nutrition intake and intelligence.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcellent human capital is determined by adequate intake. No matter\nhow good a school is, if a child is undernourished or stunted, their IQ\nwill be low. We must ensure food self-sufficiency and protein. If 82.9\nmillion beneficiaries consume one egg daily, then the people\u2019s economic\nmovement will rise extraordinarily,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Support for children\u2019s quality of life was also reinforced by the\nMinistry of Women\u2019s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifah\nFauzi.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis programme is not only a nutrition intervention but child\nprotection that places children as subjects of development. We ensure\nwomen are not only targets but also driving forces through involvement\nin MBG kitchens and local MSMEs,\u201d Arifah said.<\/p>\n
Through synergy with Ruang Bersama Indonesia, the Forum Anak spread\nacross 34 provinces covering around 13,000 villages\/kelurahan, and the\nFamily Learning Centre (Puspaga), the PPPA Ministry also ensures spaces\nfor children\u2019s participation and community-based caregiving operate\noptimally.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-for-basic-and-secondary-education-says-mbg-is-part-of-students-character-education-1772622207", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }