Jakarta, VIVA \u2013 Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa assured that\nthe education expenditure budget remains safe and will not be reduced\namid the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme.<\/p>\n
\u2018The education budget remains safe,\u2019 Purbaya said at a press\nconference at the Ministry of Finance, Jakarta, Friday, 6 March\n2026.<\/p>\n
He emphasised that the MBG programme already has its own budget\nallocation, which does not disrupt routine education programme spending.\nMeanwhile, the budget ceiling for education in the APBN is also\nguaranteed to be allocated at 20 percent, as mandated by law.<\/p>\n
\u2018MBG budget is only to buy food, but it is not included in education\nor education is not cut,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
It is understood that previously the government had asserted that the\neducation budget for 2026, agreed with the DPR and the Budget Agency of\nthe DPR, would not be reduced because of the MBG programme.<\/p>\n
Secretary to the Cabinet, Teddy Indra Wijaya, confirmed that all\nstrategic education programmes such as the Kartu Indonesia Pintar and\nProgram Indonesia Pintar remain in operation, accompanied by\nstrengthening access through Sekolah Rakyat and the renovation of around\n16,000 schools in 2025 with a budget of Rp 17 trillion.<\/p>\n
He also noted that the government increased teacher incentives to Rp\n400,000 and non-ASN teacher allowances from Rp 1,500,000 to Rp 2,000,000\nin 2025, as part of strengthening the education sector.<\/p>\n
Senior Expert at the Government Communications Office, Hariqo Wibawa\nSatria, explained that the education budget for 2026 reaches Rp 769.8\ntrillion. Within it there is a budget allocation component of Rp 223.5\ntrillion for the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to manage the MBG\nProgramme.<\/p>\n
He stressed that MBG is an integral part of the education system\nbecause nutrition is the foundation for students\u2019 learning. In addition,\nother education programmes did not suffer budget cuts; some even\nincreased, such as teacher allowances and education assistance.<\/p>\n
Hariqo also clarified misinformation about neglected schools due to\nMBG. This is untrue, as in 2025, 16,000 schools were repaired, and in\n2026, the target is to equip 71,000 schools with improved\nfacilities.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/purbaya-assures-mbg-programme-will-not-cut-education-budget-1772805689", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }