New BGN Leadership and Children's Day Mark Thursday's Headlines
Several humanitarian events took place across the country on Thursday. Among them, National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Head Sudaryono stated he is open to the initiative of forming a supervisory board for the agency, whilst the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) encouraged children to return to playing and reduce gadget use in commemoration of National Children’s Day (HAN) 2026.
Sudaryono stated he is open to the initiative of having a supervisory board to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme to improve governance. “I have not received further information; of course, the main thing is that we work correctly. I think having a supervisory board is better, plus private supervisors, so if there is anything untoward, it can be reported. So, I am open to all initiatives,” he said in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday. He also emphasised that if any parties are investigated, suspected, or named as suspects in corruption cases, or become witnesses, it is a matter for law enforcement.
Separately, the new central leadership of BGN is expected to accelerate the equitable distribution of nutrition services in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions, particularly in Nabire and Central Papua. Marsel Asyerem, the BGN Coordinator for Nabire, stated on Thursday that accelerating nutrition services in 3T areas is crucial to ensure that people in remote areas have equal rights to quality nutrition services. “We hope that 3T regions become a priority, so that no more Indonesian children are left behind in obtaining access to good nutrition,” Marsel said.
BGN Head Sudaryono also mentioned that evaluating the raw material standards for the Free Nutritious Meal programme is a priority to improve the programme’s governance. “All ingredients must be correct, with proper safety standards, because we are learning from factors like food poisoning and others. So, besides the processing method, there is also the issue of raw materials that might not be standardised or perhaps the quality of the raw materials is not very good,” he stated. He affirmed that President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the sharpening of targets so that the main goal of improving children’s nutritional quality can be achieved, whilst also impacting local economic growth.
In commemoration of National Children’s Day 2026, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) invited the public to encourage children to engage in direct play and reduce gadget use. Director of Early Childhood Education (PAUD) at Kemendikdasmen, Kurniawan, conveyed that the 2026 HAN commemoration is not merely ceremonial, but a moment to unite the determination of all stakeholders in creating an environment that supports children’s growth and development. “Fulfilling children’s rights and protection cannot be done alone. Cross-sector cooperation is needed so that every child is truly protected, educated, and grows up in a healthy environment,” he said in a written statement in Jakarta on Thursday.