Several legal academics from the Constitutional and Administrative\nLaw Society (CALS) have asserted that education budgets cannot be\nredirected or burdened for programmes outside the primary function of\neducation, including the free nutritious meals (MBG) programme.<\/p>\n
The statement was made in a written submission as an interested party\nin the material review of the National Education System Act and the 2026\nState Budget at the Constitutional Court. \u201cEducation budget must\ncontinue to be used for financing the core implementation of education,\u201d\nsaid Titi Anggraini, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law at the University\nof Indonesia, on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.<\/p>\n
CALS considers incorporating the MBG programme into the education\nbudget component as potentially deviating from constitutional mandate.\nArticle 31(4) of the 1945 Constitution requires the state to allocate a\nminimum of 20 per cent of the budget for education. However, according\nto them, what must be safeguarded is not only the amount but also the\npurpose of its use.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe budget cannot be interpreted loosely to the extent that it\nreduces allocation for teaching and learning activities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Yance Arizona, a law lecturer from Gadjah Mada University, considered\nusing education budgets for the MBG programme as potentially eroding the\nfulfilment of citizens\u2019 basic rights. According to him, when education\nbudgets are diverted for other programmes, the state actually hinders\nefforts to fulfil the right to education. \u201cThe Constitution requires\nstrengthening, not reduction or reallocation of the education sector\nbudget,\u201d Yance stated.<\/p>\n
CALS emphasised that this matter is not merely a technical budgeting\nissue but concerns constitutional protection and the future of national\neducation. They called upon the Constitutional Court to affirm that\neducation budgets cannot be used as fiscal space to finance programmes\noutside their primary function.<\/p>\n
Besides Titi and Yance, interested parties in this submission include\nDhia Al Uyun, Bivitri Susanti, and Raden Violla Reininda Hafidz, who are\nalso members of CALS. Through this material review, the plaintiffs hope\nthat education budgets remain protected and used entirely for education\ninterests.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/plaintiffs-free-nutritious-meals-programme-must-not-burden-education-budget-1773800539", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }