Free Nutritious Meal Programme Ensures Students' Dietary Needs Met During Ramadan

Singkawang — The Regional Coordinator of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Programme Providers (SPPG) across Singkawang, Devi Riskia, has affirmed that MBG menus during the holy month of Ramadan remain designed to meet students’ nutritional needs, even though Muslim pupils receive dry meal packages.

The explanation was issued following scrutiny from social media users regarding the dry MBG menu taken home by students on the first day of school at the start of Ramadan in Singkawang.

“The dry MBG menu given to students consists of bread, fruit, eggs, nuts and dates. Based on this composition, the nutritional content already covers energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates and fibre,” Devi said during an interview in Singkawang on Tuesday (24 February).

She explained that the policy of providing special dry menus for Muslim students was implemented as an adjustment during Ramadan, so that the food could be consumed at the time of breaking the fast.

Meanwhile, for non-Muslim schools, MBG continues to be distributed in the form of wet meals as on regular days. These meals comprise white rice, side dishes, vegetables and fruit, with nutritional composition adjusted to established standards.

“We ensure that the nutritional content of the dry MBG menu remains present and meets standards, even though it is not served as a ready-to-eat meal,” she said.

She added that dry MBG portions are also adjusted according to students’ education level, from primary school through to senior secondary school.

“The portions differ. For primary school children the portions are smaller, whilst for senior secondary students the portions are larger, adjusted to each group’s nutritional requirements,” she said.

Devi stressed that SPPG MBG Singkawang would continue to evaluate the implementation and menu of the MBG programme during Ramadan, including following up on feedback from the public.

“We will continue to make improvements and ensure that going forward schoolchildren still receive proper and nutritious MBG meals, even whilst observing the fasting period,” she said.