Minister Claims Millions of Teachers Want Free Nutritious Meals Programme to Continue

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti has revealed that millions of teachers want the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme to continue because of its positive impact on learning motivation and students’ academic achievement. This was conveyed to President Prabowo Subianto during a limited meeting at the Merdeka Palace on Thursday (11/6/2026). According to Mu’ti, the MBG is aligned with his ministry’s programme, the 7 Great Indonesian Habits: waking up early, praying, exercising, eating healthy and nutritious food, being fond of learning, socialising, and sleeping early. Therefore, the MBG is a part of strengthening character education. ‘We have published the modules, and there has been research from the University of Indonesia and other institutions showing the positive impact of MBG on increasing learning motivation, school attendance, and academic achievement,’ Mu’ti told reporters. Mu’ti also revealed that the majority of teachers agree to continue this programme. This data was also conveyed to President Prabowo Subianto during the meeting. ‘We also reported that as of 10 June, 80.7% of students had received MBG. So out of over 53 million students, over 43 million have received MBG. And they [the teachers] stated that MBG should continue,’ he said. ‘because the impact is very positive, both in relation to school attendance rates and in relation to learning motivation and academic achievement,’ he added. Not only that, Mu’ti also delivered a report regarding the school revitalisation programme and the implementation of integrated national schools. He reported that the school revitalisation programme for 2025 has been 100% implemented, covering 16,167 educational units. He said that this year the ministry will revitalise 71,744 educational units throughout Indonesia, from kindergarten to upper secondary level. ‘This year, with the budget approved by the DPR of Rp 14 trillion, we are allocating for 11,744 educational units and God willing, there will be an additional 60,000 educational units,’ he said. Several have also been completed and can be inaugurated in time for the start of the new 2026-2027 academic year in July-August. According to Mu’ti, this school revitalisation programme also has a positive economic impact due to the self-management system. It is also estimated that 1.1 million workers will be absorbed by this programme. On the same occasion, Mu’ti also reported on the plan to construct Integrated National Schools. According to him, 100 schools are planned to be built this year. ‘This year we will begin, God willing, opening them in training centres owned by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. There may be one in IKN, and possibly nine more that we will build in selected regions,’ he said. Mu’ti also announced that this year the ministry will allocate scholarships for 150,000 teachers who do not yet hold a D4 or S1 degree. The scholarship amount provided is Rp 3 million per semester. ‘The registration process is still ongoing, as we continue to wait for teachers to join this programme. This relates to teacher welfare and improving teacher quality,’ he said. Mu’ti also expressed hope that the President could attend the graduation ceremony for 12,500 teachers who have completed this programme in 2025.