Experts and sociological research findings demonstrate that the Free\nNutritious Meal Programme (MBG) effectively strengthens solidarity and\nlearning motivation among students in schools. These findings reinforce\nresearch from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education\n(Kemendikdasmen), which designates MBG as a new foundation for quality\neducation in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Musni Umar stated that MBG not only ensures students\nreceive adequate nutritional intake but also plays a role in building\nsocial interaction and enhancing learning enthusiasm in school\nenvironments. The programme offers broad benefits, both in terms of\nstudent health and social development. Regular access to nutritious food\nhelps students engage in the learning process with greater focus and\ncomfort.<\/p>\n
\u201cMBG in schools creates equality, togetherness, and closeness among\nstudents. Additionally, students can follow lessons well and comfortably\nbecause they are not hungry,\u201d Umar said on Wednesday (11 March).<\/p>\n
Musni acknowledged that this perspective stems from his personal\nexperience as a child in Kendari, South East Sulawesi, when he would\nattend school without breakfast, which left him underweight and\nfrequently ill.\u00a0This changed when he became a university student living\nin dormitory accommodation with regular communal meal schedules.<\/p>\n
\u201cSociologically, in the future we will see the growth of a nation\u2019s\nyouth who are healthy, intelligent, and possess high solidarity towards\none another because of the closeness they experience whilst eating\ntogether,\u201d Musni explained.<\/p>\n
He urged the government to address various problems that have\nafflicted the programme.<\/p>\n
Musni\u2019s statement aligns with Toni Toharudin, Head of the Board of\nEducational Standards, Curriculum, and Assessment at Kemendikdasmen.\nAccording to Toni, the government-initiated MBG programme serves as a\nnew foundation for creating quality education in Indonesia. Toni\nexplained that MBG impacts not only individuals but also school culture.\nCommunal eating practices create spaces for more inclusive social\ninteraction and strengthen togetherness among students.<\/p>\n
\u201cCommunal eating becomes a natural vehicle for character education.\nStudents learn discipline, cleanliness, and respect for food. This\ndemonstrates that character education does not always require formal\napproaches but can develop through carefully designed everyday\nexperiences,\u201d Toni emphasised.<\/p>\n
This social experience is important for building empathy,\ncollaboration, and social responsibility. MBG creates opportunities for\nschools to foster a healthy and positive learning culture.<\/p>\n
MBG also has the potential to reshape pedagogical relationships in\nschools. Communal eating activities create informal moments that bring\nstudents and teachers together in a more equal and humane atmosphere.\nSuch interactions strengthen psychological safety, which is a crucial\nfoundation for deep learning.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen students feel valued and socially connected, they tend to be\nmore willing to ask questions, explore, and actively engage in the\nlearning process,\u201d Toni said.<\/p>\n
Findings from the Centre for Sociological Studies at the University\nof Indonesia in March 2026 and research from the Research Institute of\nSocio-Economic Development in February 2026 showed similar results. The\nresearch involved 30 schools with 1,267 samples (students, teachers,\nparents, and MBG kitchen managers) across five regencies and cities:\nKupang, Depok, Sukabumi, Garut, and Pesisir Selatan.<\/p>\n
The results demonstrated that MBG effectively strengthens\ntogetherness among all students and teachers in schools. Beyond the\nsociological dimension, the MBG programme also eases the economic burden\non parents, particularly those from lower-middle-income households.<\/p>\n
Approximately 72% of parents reported that their children now consume\nnutritious food more regularly, whilst 55% stated that their children\nmore readily accept a variety of foods previously rarely consumed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most encouraging finding from this research is the high\nacceptance rate among communities from lower-middle-income backgrounds.\nParents of students encountered in the field generally provided very\npositive assessments of this programme,\u201d said Hari Nugroho, Head of\nLabSosio-LPPSP FISIP UI.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sociological-study-shows-free-nutritious-meal-programme-strengthens-student-solidarity-and-learning-motivation-1773237117", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }