BGN Chief Urges Public Not to Pit Damaged Schools Against Free Nutritious Meal Programme

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono, has asked the public to stop pitting damaged schools against the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, as has been widely discussed on social media.

He explained that the school in question had indeed been damaged before the MBG programme existed, and it has now been repaired under President Prabowo.

“So it is actually quite simple: if a damaged school is found, all you need to do is report it. There is a portal at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen), and it will certainly be repaired. This is a matter of fairness — 70,000 schools have now been fixed, but the moment one is found damaged, especially next to a gleaming, clean MBG kitchen in a nice shade of blue, the comparison gets made. That is something I find questionable, but it is fine, it is part of the dynamics of our democracy,” Sudaryono said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He affirmed that the BGN is currently focused on ensuring that MBG kitchens are clean, hygienic and safe, that the food served meets nutritional adequacy requirements, and that it can be enjoyed by beneficiaries, particularly schoolchildren.

“So even before I became head of the BGN, I often campaigned on this. For damaged schools, all that remains is to report them through the portal, and they will be sorted out. So I invite everyone not to stir up the issue. If you find a damaged school, take a photo and report it — there is no need to compare it with an MBG kitchen, because the two are unrelated. The MBG kitchens are built by partners under an established scheme, whereas school repairs are a separate matter,” he explained.

Nevertheless, he affirmed that the government continues to follow up on criticism, suggestions and input from the public, and to find solutions to every problem raised, including those related to nutrition, health and education.

“We identify problems, we find solutions, we resolve them, because our task is indeed to solve problems. Issues of education, health, nutrition and so on — that is our job. So I say thank you for raising all of this, and on this occasion, in front of many cameras, I want to say that if you find something wrong, report it as it is — there is no need to embellish it with this and that,” Sudaryono said.