BGN Studies Involving School Canteens to Support Free Nutritious Meal Programme
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is currently studying the possibility of involving school canteens in the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme, as one effort to strengthen the programme’s effectiveness in the field.
Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Agustina Arumsari, said the study is part of an evaluation and improvement process for the MBG programme’s governance, currently being carried out following instructions from President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.
“We continue to study various schemes so that the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal programme becomes more effective and efficient, and can reach beneficiaries while continuing to prioritise food safety standards, nutritional quality and good governance,” said Agustina Arumsari after attending a Limited Meeting at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday (15/7).
According to Agustina, the involvement of school canteens is still at the study stage together with the relevant ministries and agencies. The study covers various aspects, ranging from the readiness of facilities and infrastructure, management capacity, hygiene and sanitation standards, to oversight mechanisms to ensure implementation continues to comply with applicable regulations.
BGN emphasised that every development of the MBG programme’s implementation scheme will be carried out gradually, based on study results, and guided by the principle of prudence. All future decisions will consider the programme’s effectiveness as well as the best interests of students as beneficiaries.
Through a comprehensive evaluation process and collaboration with various stakeholders, BGN hopes the Free Nutritious Meal programme can continue to develop into an adaptive, high-quality programme capable of sustainably supporting improvements in the nutritional status of Indonesia’s younger generation.
The programme has impacted the plummeting turnover of school canteens and small traders who usually sell in school environments in Sidoarjo Regency, while the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta, Teguh Setyabudi, will conduct an evaluation regarding school canteen revenue declines attributed to the presence of the MBG programme.