House Commission X Confirms Free Nutritious Meals Programme Does Not Disrupt Education Budget
Deputy Chairman of House of Representatives Commission X, Lalu Hadrian Irfani, has stated that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme does not disrupt the budget structure of education ministries. Lalu said President Prabowo Subianto has in fact increased education funding through a Supplementary Expenditure Budget (ABT).
“The MBG budget does not disrupt the education budget. The President has actually increased the education budget through the ABT, with a focus on improving infrastructure, quality, and teacher welfare,” Lalu told reporters on Saturday (21/2/2026).
Lalu said that in various working meetings between House Commission X and the education ministries, it was confirmed that MBG programme funding is separate from the education budget.
During those meetings, he said, education ministers affirmed that MBG strengthens character education by improving the quality and nutrition of meals for students as part of the seventh programme of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, namely Indonesia Hebat (Great Indonesia).
“Regarding MBG, it is indeed listed under the education budget in the state expenditure structure, but after numerous working meetings we found that MBG’s purpose is actually for educational interests,” he said.
The PKB faction legislator emphasised that House Commission X fully supports the MBG programme. Moreover, he said, MBG in principle supports the advancement of national education.
The chairman of the PKB regional board for West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) urged the government to promptly improve teachers’ living standards. Lalu expressed hope that President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to enhancing teacher welfare would become a national priority.
“The most important thing now is the government’s good faith — our first priority must be teacher welfare. Teacher welfare must be the primary concern,” he said.
Lalu also noted the additional budget allocation of Rp 181 trillion for the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen), in addition to supplementary budgets for the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) and the Ministry of Culture.
“So do not misperceive the situation. After we examined it thoroughly and coordinated with the education ministries, it turns out that MBG does not disrupt the budgets of the education ministries. The President has actually increased education spending for infrastructure improvements, quality enhancement, and teacher welfare,” he said.
Lalu reiterated that the implementation of MBG does not disrupt the education budget structure. He supports MBG so long as it serves the purpose of advancing national education.
“It does not disrupt it. In fact, with MBG, the goals of our national education are strengthened. After we held numerous meetings, the education budget structure has actually been increased,” he concluded.