Innovative Touch in the MBG Programme in Malang City
Malang, East Java (ANTARA) - There is a different scene during lesson breaks at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Negeri or MIN 2 in Malang City, East Java, related to the Makan Bergizi Gratis or MBG programme. Students line up neatly in a single queue to enjoy the buffet-style dishes.
As with the general implementation of MBG, there is a row of neatly arranged aluminium food containers displaying a variety of dishes, from rice, sides, vegetables, to appetising drinks ready to be eaten.
The variety of MBG menu dishes, which is a flagship programme of President Prabowo Subianto, aims to meet the nutritional needs for children’s growth and development.
The programme is indeed MBG, but the model at the school is different from the usual. At the school, MBG is served buffet-style—what’s coolly called a buffet concept. At the school, containers shaped like tepak or known as ompreng are not used.
The MBG serving concept at the school is similar to that at wedding parties or ceremonial events. This is a trial and the first time it was applied during the halalbihalal or post-Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah gathering.
Head of SPPG Sukun Gadang 2 in Malang City, Ita Herlistyawati, said that the implementation of the buffet MBG concept was guidance given by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) at the post-Eid al-Fitr moment.
“So during the zoom meeting, it was suggested to make MBG buffet because the time is longer,” said Ita.
Although students can independently take the MBG menu they want, the SPPG still conducts supervision.
There is a portioning team placed to monitor students when selecting MBG food, so that nutritional value is maintained.
Based on information from the Coordinator of Student Affairs at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Negeri 2 Malang City, Imam Ahmadi, the school received a letter requesting a trial of the buffet MBG concept from SPPG Malang City Unit 2 Gadang.
The school side gave the green light and then prepared the MBG building facilities and arranged the queuing pattern to prevent congestion among students when taking food.
Students from classes 4 to 6 get the first chance to taste the buffet MBG menu, followed by their younger siblings or students from classes 1 to 3.
“We must try, synergise with each other to support the government’s programme in the form of MBG,” said Imam.
Support
Students at MIN 2 Malang City compactly support the implementation of buffet MBG because it creates a different atmosphere, where students can take menus according to their daily portions, but still supervised by the SPPG portioning team, so the food remains in accordance with nutritional standards.
Support for the sustainability of buffet MBG emerges because it tastes good, not much different from the food packages distributed through the ompreng model.
“I want there to be more, in my opinion, hopefully this MBG can continue with buffet,” she said.
Yusuf, one of the students’ parents, said that buffet MBG is a new concept and worth implementing, because it is an innovation that drives the programme.
The model is also assessed to make the serving process easier for children, because MBG beneficiaries directly queue in one place and then there is no uneaten food because students can adjust the food according to their portions.