Government Evaluates Free Nutritious Meals Programme for Elite School Students

The government is evaluating the provision of Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) to students at elite schools so that the programme is more targeted and reaches those most in need. The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, speaking at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday, said this refocusing of targets was being carried out to make the programme more precise and reach the groups that require it most. She stated that thus far, MBG had been provided to all schoolchildren, regardless of whether the school was classified as lower, middle, or upper class. “Yes, that is correct (a restructuring). I mean those who are capable, the wealthy. So, for example, rich schools later,” she said. In addition to adjusting the target beneficiaries, she said the government is also discussing efficiency aspects in the programme’s implementation. However, details regarding the efficiency measures to be applied will still be discussed further in subsequent meetings. Previously, Nanik stated that the MBG programme would be focused on underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions, as well as groups of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers (3B), in accordance with the directive of President Prabowo Subianto. Therefore, she continued, the BGN has issued a circular stating that Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) not serving the 3B MBG targets will be suspended. Meanwhile, for the construction of SPPGs in 3T regions, the BGN will pursue several alternative implementation schemes so as not to burden the state budget (APBN).