Constitutional Court Hearing: P2G Says Free Meal Project Impacts All Teacher Categories
The Education and Teachers Association (P2G) has stated that the free nutritious meal (MBG) project has had a negative impact on the career continuity and welfare of teachers across all categories. P2G Head of Advocacy Iman Zanatul Haeri said the MBG project has undermined the welfare of educators. A clear example is the wave of mass layoffs affecting honorary teachers, part-time PPPK (government employees with work agreements), and full PPPK teachers. “In Tuban, 39 PPPK teachers had their contracts terminated; in various places like Cianjur, East Lombok, and many more, layoffs have occurred,” Iman said while testifying as a witness for the petitioner in the judicial review case Number 55/PUU-XXIV/2026 at the Constitutional Court on Monday, 15 June 2026.
He continued that the negative impact of this flagship project under the Prabowo Subianto administration has also led to increasingly minimal incomes for teachers, especially part-time PPPK teachers. Based on data compiled by P2G, many teachers receive wages far below decent standards. In Langkat, North Sumatra, and Blitar, East Java, for instance, part-time PPPK teachers only earn Rp 500,000 per month. “In Sumedang, West Java, it is Rp 50,000,” Iman stated.
He explained that according to a P2G survey of 2,309 teachers across Indonesia, almost all respondents expressed similar sentiments: the MBG project has increased educators’ workloads while reducing their teaching hours. Iman added that MBG has also caused teachers’ incomes to be far from prosperous, led to delays in wage and allowance payments, and reduced educational facilities. “It also includes the absence of opportunities for honorary teachers to be appointed as PPPK. What do teachers say? I doubt I can continue my career as a teacher,” Iman said.
Therefore, before the panel of justices, Iman expressed hope that the constitutional judges would consider his testimony regarding the facts experienced by teachers following the implementation of the MBG project. He reminded the court that the fourth amendment to the Constitution explicitly stipulates that the education budget, which must be at least 20 percent, is intended for teacher welfare. “So, we hope this is indeed for teachers and should not be taken away by MBG,” Iman stated.
Judicial review petitions against the State Budget Law related to the MBG project have been widely filed by civil society groups and other parties. Since January, the Court has received several petitions. There are six recorded judicial review cases filed by civil society groups, educators, and students. These six cases are registered under case numbers 40, 52, 55, 100, 130, and 142/PUU-XXIV/2026. The majority of the challenged provision is Article 22 paragraph (3) of the State Budget Law and its elucidation. This provision states that the education budget amounts to more than Rp 769 trillion, or 20 percent of the total state budget. The issue is that the elucidation of this article has been manipulated to allocate a portion of the funds for the MBG project. Based on Presidential Regulation Number 188 of 2025, Rp 223 trillion of the Rp 769 trillion education budget is earmarked for the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).