Cabinet Secretary: Does the Free Nutritious Meal Programme Reduce Education Budget? My Answer is No

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya responded to the controversy over claims that the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) budget is drawn from the national education allocation. Teddy emphasised that the MBG programme will not reduce education programmes.

“I want to clarify misunderstandings and incorrect narratives. What am I addressing? Yesterday, a small group claimed that the free nutritious meal programme reduces education programmes and budgets, leaving schools neglected and teachers disregarded. I want to address this as an incorrect narrative,” Teddy said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Friday (27 February 2026).

Teddy explained that the MBG programme aims to improve human resource quality. Regarding its budget allocation, Teddy noted it has passed government agreements with Parliament, including approval by Parliament’s Budget Committee (Banggar).

“The question then is, does this nutritious meal programme reduce education programmes? My answer is no,” he said.

Teddy continued that the government under President Prabowo Subianto has not halted education programmes from the previous administration. According to him, education-oriented programmes have actually been expanded.

“The fact is, there is no strategic education programme from the previous period that is not running now. No programmes from the previous period have been stopped. Everything is running, and even expanded. There is the Smart Indonesia Card, running. There is the Indonesia Smart Programme, running. President Prabowo has even added the Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School). For what purpose? Children who cannot attend school, dropped out, or have never attended school are enrolled in the People’s School,” he said.

Furthermore, Teddy noted that President Prabowo’s administration has aggressively repaired damaged school buildings. “During President Prabowo’s tenure, because these buildings have been damaged and problematic for a long time without being addressed, we are renovating them. In fact, in 2025 alone, approximately 16,000 schools have been renovated. The data exists, photographs exist, you can verify. With a total budget of approximately Rp 17 trillion, overseen by the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology,” he continued.

Regarding teacher salaries, increases have been implemented. Teddy mentioned that the central government has provided incentives for contract teachers in regions. Allowances for non-civil service teachers have also been raised.

“There are those who say teachers are not being looked after. The facts are threefold. First, regarding contract teachers. I want to clarify that contract teachers fall under regional government authority. However, the central government provides incentives. How much is this increase? From 2005 to 2025, there was an incentive scheme. It was only raised under President Prabowo’s administration to Rp 400,000,” Teddy said.

“Second, there is the non-civil service teacher allowance. The amount? It increased from Rp 1.5 million last year to Rp 2 million. Third, what other policies? What teachers felt most was that honour allowances were previously transferred to regions. Last year, the President instructed that these be paid directly to teachers each month. This is already operational,” he continued.

Previously, the MBG budget taken from the education allocation was highlighted by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP). PDIP stated that the Rp 223.5 trillion budget for the programme was drawn from the total national education budget.

This clarification followed statements from several state officials claiming that the MBG budget resulted from efficiency measures and did not deplete the education budget allocation. This prompted questions from PDIP party managers and the public about the actual facts.

“Our colleagues at lower levels understand that the education budget of Rp 769 trillion represents mandatory spending of 20 per cent of the state and regional budgets that must be allocated purely for education,” said Deputy Chair of Commission X of Parliament from the PDIP faction, MY Esti Wijayati, during a press conference at the PDIP Central Executive School, Lenteng Agung, Jakarta, Wednesday (25 February).

However, based on official state documents, MBG programme funds actually reduce the education budget allocation.

“In the APBN appendix comprising presidential regulations, it is clearly stated that from the Rp 769 trillion education budget, Rp 223.5 trillion is used for MBG. This is official in the APBN appendix,” she said.