The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has stated that the Free\nNutritious Meals (MBG) programme is not distributed to pupils when\nschools are closed due to forest and land fires (karhutla).<\/p>\n
BGN Head Sudaryono said that MBG distribution follows school\noperations. When schools are not carrying out teaching and learning\nactivities due to emergency conditions, MBG distribution is also\nhalted.<\/p>\n
\u201cKarhutla, you see\u2026 the SPPG serves and sends MBG during school\noperating hours. In the case of karhutla in several regions, the food\nhas already been cooked when they are then informed that the school is\nclosed because of the karhutla,\u201d Sudaryono said when met at the\nCoordinating Ministry for Food office in Jakarta on Wednesday\n(26\/8\/2026).<\/p>\n
Sudaryono stressed that while schools remain closed and learning is\nconducted online or through distance learning (PJJ), MBG is not provided\nto pupils.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring PJJ, during online learning, they do not attend school, so we\ndo not provide MBG,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to Sudaryono, the policy applies because MBG is intended\nfor beneficiaries who are carrying out activities at school. Therefore,\nwhen schools are not operating, food distribution is also halted.<\/p>\n
However, there is a special condition when a school has just been\nclosed after food production has already begun. In such circumstances,\nBGN does not immediately stop distribution because the food ingredients\nhave already been purchased and some have been processed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we clarify again that what is distributed is what has already\nbeen bought \u2014 the food ingredients were purchased the previous day. So\nsome of it has already been cooked,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Sudaryono explained that food that has already been cooked is still\ndistributed through a specific mechanism so that it is not wasted.\nDistribution is carried out after coordination with the regional\ngovernment and relevant parties.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ingredients that have already been purchased are still cooked,\nand then we coordinate with the regional disaster management agency, the\nregional head, and the authorities in that area on the mechanism so that\nthe food is not thrown away,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
One mechanism is for the food to be collected by pupils\u2019 parents.\nThis scheme is implemented on the first day when the food has already\nbeen produced, while the school subsequently decides to close due to the\nhaze.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Sudaryono stressed that such distribution does not\ncontinue for as long as the school remains closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut after that, on the following day there is no more, because the\nschool is not operating. The school is closed because of the haze,\u201d\nSudaryono explained.<\/p>\n
BGN, he said, has issued a circular to the kitchens of the Nutrition\nFulfilment Service Units (SPPG) regarding the mechanism for MBG\ndistribution when schools are closed due to certain conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we have issued a circular like that to the kitchens, so that when\nthe school is closed, it is not given \u2014 only on the first day because\nthe food has already been cooked,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sudaryono said the mechanism has been implemented in a number of\nregions affected by karhutla, including Central Kalimantan, South\nKalimantan, West Kalimantan and several areas in Sumatra.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/schools-closed-due-to-forest-fire-haze-free-nutritious-meals-programme-still-running-1787745155", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }