Cabinet Secretary Teddy: Free Nutritious Meals Programme Does Not Reduce Education Spending
Jakarta — Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya has addressed concerns regarding education budgets that have come under public scrutiny. A lawsuit has even been filed by teacher groups who believe education budgets are being diverted to the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG).
“I want to clarify the misunderstanding and incorrect narrative. What is it about? Recently, some parties have stated that the free nutritious meals programme reduces education programmes and budgets, resulting in neglected schools and teachers not being given attention,” said Teddy at the Presidential Palace Complex on Friday (27 February 2026).
“I want to respond to that incorrect narrative,” he added.
Teddy explained that MBG aims to improve the quality of human resources, particularly among students from early childhood education through secondary school.
He also noted that the education budget allocation has been agreed upon by the Government, the Budget Body of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), and was discussed during the 2026 State Budget Financial Note on 15 August 2025.
Teddy firmly stressed that this flagship government programme does not reduce existing education programmes. According to him, strategic programmes from the previous administration continue to operate, such as the Smart Indonesia Card, Indonesia Smart Programme, and others.
“Does this nutritious meals programme reduce education programmes? My answer is no. The fact is, there is no strategic education programme from the previous period that is not running now. No programme from the previous period has been stopped. Everything is running. Everything is running, and even expanded,” said Teddy.
Furthermore, Teddy explained that the current government is also expanding education programmes through the People’s School initiative, a school programme for underprivileged children housed in dormitories to ensure their survival and healthy development.
Teddy also denied that schools are neglected due to reduced education budgets for MBG. According to him, the problem of damaged schools has existed for a long time and falls under the authority of regional governments.
“And you must remember, schools fall under the authority of regional governments. That is the regulation. So, secondary schools are the responsibility of governors, whilst primary and junior secondary schools are the responsibility of regents and mayors,” said Teddy.
Currently, according to him, the government has renovated 16,000 schools in 2025 with a total budget of Rp 17 trillion. The government has also provided 280,000 digital screens for classroom learning.
“Not to mention the upcoming Garuda schools, integrated schools, and new campus developments that the President wants to establish, which are currently underway. So, I want to say, there is no programme that is not being continued. All programmes are running and even expanded,” he said.
Teddy also refuted claims that many teachers are being neglected due to reduced budgets from MBG. In fact, according to him, the current government has already provided additional incentives for honorary teachers in 2025.
“There is also the claim that teachers are not being given attention. The fact is, there are three points. First, regarding honorary teachers. I want to point out that honorary teachers fall under the authority of regional governments. But the central government provides incentives. These incentives are not salaries, they are additional payments. And what is the amount of this increase? From 2005 to 2025 there has been an incentive. It only increased during President Prabowo’s administration, to Rp 400,000,” he said.
“So imagine, for 20 years the incentive had never been increased. It only increased last year to Rp 400,000. That is the first point,” he added.
Regarding non-civil servant teacher allowances, the government has also increased this from Rp 1.5 million last year to Rp 2 million. Teddy added that the government is also providing honour allowances through transfers to regions distributed every three months.
“Last year, the President instructed that each month it would be given directly to the teachers. And it is already running,” said Teddy.
On this occasion, Teddy also explained that the agreed education budget with the DPR this year reaches Rp 769.1 trillion, which is 20 per cent of the total 2026 State Budget. The allocation and use of the budget has been agreed upon by the Budget Body of the DPR RI.
“What is the education budget? There is a lot. Its contents and allocation have been agreed upon jointly last year by the government, DPR, and the Budget Body of the DPR, whose chairman is also from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle,” explained Teddy.
According to Annex VI of Presidential Regulation Number 118 of 2025 on the Breakdown of the 2026 State Budget, Rp 223.55 trillion is allocated to the National Nutrition Body component of the total education budget.