DEN Study Finds MBG Recipients Miss School Less Often Than Non-recipients

The National Economic Council (DEN) has presented findings from a study on the impact of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme on students’ attendance and enthusiasm for learning at school.

The study found that students receiving MBG tend to be absent less often than those not enrolled in the programme. The most pronounced difference was among recipients in decile 1, the lowest-income group.

DEN member Mochammad Firman Hidayat said the study used a dedicated module in the National Socio-Economic Survey (Susenas), developed by DEN in collaboration with Statistics Indonesia (BPS) and several other institutions since last year.

He said the findings were positive evidence that MBG can boost students’ motivation to learn and active participation at school.

“When a student does not receive MBG, they are likely to be absent often. By contrast, an MBG recipient is relatively unlikely to miss school. Absenteeism falls further as the intensity of MBG provision at their school increases,” Firman said at a DEN press conference at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.

He added that the study also found a positive correlation between students’ enthusiasm for learning and the quality of the MBG meals served.

Firman said 95 per cent of MBG recipients felt more enthusiastic about learning when they considered the meals to be of good quality. Their enthusiasm tended to decline when the meals did not meet their expectations.

DEN therefore recommended that President Prabowo Subianto ensure the government continues to pay attention to the quality of MBG meals to support students’ enthusiasm for learning at school.

“We told the President that the quality of MBG meals needs attention because it is linked to children’s hunger and enthusiasm for learning at school,” he added.

DEN also noted that, as of September 2026, MBG recipients were still concentrated more heavily in urban areas than in rural areas. Beneficiaries were also disproportionately students from more affluent households.

The council recommended prioritising MBG distribution to low-income communities, students in rural areas and people in disadvantaged, frontier and outermost (3T) regions. It said this would help motivate students to attend school and continue their education.