BGN Head States MBG to Be Provided for 5 Days, Excluding 3T Areas and Stunting-Prone Regions
The policy for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme for schoolchildren has been further strengthened following the High-Level Virtual Coordination Meeting (Rakortas) with the President on Saturday, 28 March 2026. In general, schoolchildren attending school five days a week will receive MBG in line with school days, namely five days.
However, for 3T (frontier, outermost, disadvantaged) areas and regions with high stunting prevalence, a special policy is applied. MBG will still be provided on Saturdays to ensure children’s nutritional intake remains fulfilled.
“The provision of MBG on Saturdays for areas with high stunting risk is a strategic step to ensure children receive adequate nutrition every day,” said BGN Head Dadan Hindayana in Jakarta, quoted on Sunday, 29 March 2026.
BGN emphasises the importance of meticulous data collection to determine the areas eligible for this special policy. The latest data from the 2024 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia serves as the reference in determining priority nutrition intervention areas, particularly in eastern Indonesia.
“Our team will collaborate with local Education and Health Offices to ensure accurate data, so that MBG is on target,” Dadan added.
This data collection includes the number of schools, the number of students, and the stunting prevalence in each region. Provinces in eastern Indonesia, Sumatra, and Papua are examples of priority areas due to persistently high stunting rates.
“Data integrity is very important because this programme concerns the health and future of the younger generation. We do not want any child to be left behind in nutritional fulfilment,” Dadan stressed.
With this policy, BGN hopes that all schoolchildren, especially those in 3T areas and stunting-prone regions, continue to receive adequate nutritional intake and support optimal growth, while strengthening the government’s commitment to reducing stunting rates in Indonesia.