Coordinating Minister Zulhas Ensures Free Nutritious Meal Programme Prioritises Islamic Boarding Schools, Religious Schools, and 3T Regions

Jakarta, VIVA – Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) has confirmed that the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme will first focus on Islamic boarding schools (pondok pesantren), faith-based schools, and underdeveloped, frontier and outermost (3T) regions.

According to Zulhas, the government is preparing the implementation of MBG in two phases. In the initial phase, the programme’s main targets are 3T regions and religious-based educational institutions. The scheme is currently being finalised before being reported to President Prabowo Subianto.

“I am creating two phases for MBG. In the first month, the priority will be 3T regions and faith-based schools, the boarding schools. We are refining this now. Within one to two weeks, in the third week, I will present it to the President. If approved, it will take effect immediately,” said Zulhas on Sunday, 26 July 2026.

Zulhas explained that the government is also designing a special mechanism so that Islamic boarding schools do not need to build new kitchens to support the MBG programme. Kitchen facilities already available at boarding schools and Islamic-based schools will be utilised so that the programme can be implemented more quickly.

According to him, this step also avoids the need to build new kitchens, which would instead benefit other parties. The government will only ensure that the supervision process runs well so that the food served meets health and quality standards.

“So the boarding schools, Islamic schools — I will ask them not to build kitchens. Just use the kitchens at the schools, the kitchens at the boarding schools, to speed things up. No need to give profits to other parties. The boarding schools already have them, just build on that. What remains is supervision, to ensure the food is healthy and good. We will accelerate this together with the 3T regions,” he explained.