Government Denies Free Nutritious Meal Programme Cuts Education Budget
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya has emphatically stated that the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) does not reduce education budgets, contrary to narratives circulating publicly. During a statement at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Friday, 27 February, Teddy clarified several issues claiming that MBG has caused school neglect and disregarded teacher welfare. He asserted that the 2026 education budget has been mutually agreed upon by the government, parliament, and the parliamentary budget committee, including allocation and designation.
“In fact, all strategic education programmes from the previous period continue to operate without any being halted, and some have even been expanded,” he stated.
According to Teddy, various education programmes remain ongoing and strengthened, including the Smart Indonesia Card and the Indonesia Smart Programme (PIP). The government is also expanding educational access through School for the People (Sekolah Rakyat) for out-of-school children. This programme is equipped with residential facilities, education, nutritious meals, and health insurance guarantees.
He noted that by last year, the programme had reached approximately 16,000 to 20,000 students across 166 schools, with a target to add 100 new schools this year.
On infrastructure, the central government has renovated approximately 16,000 schools throughout 2025 with a budget of Rp17 trillion, though school management remains the authority of regional governments. Additionally, learning digitalisation has been accelerated through distribution of 280,000 digital television units, which will continue to increase.
Regarding educator welfare, Teddy reported an increase in teacher incentives now reaching Rp400,000 following two decades without change.
“Although honourable teacher salaries remain under regional government authority,” he noted.
The government has also increased allowances for non-civil servant teachers from Rp1.5 million to Rp2 million in 2025. Disbursement is now conducted directly each month to teachers, replacing the previous scheme distributed quarterly through regional governments.
The MBG programme also serves as a driver of grassroots economics through market certainty for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and partner kitchens, absorption of local products, and creation of new employment opportunities in regions.
Research from the Research Institute of Socio-Economic Development (RISED) indicates that the majority of parents have perceived improvements in their children’s consumption patterns following the MBG programme implementation.
Teddy explained that the MBG programme is designed to strengthen human resource quality from an early stage, from early childhood education through senior secondary level.