No Budget Diverted From MBG as Dikdasmen Submits Rp181 Trillion ABT
The Ministry of Education and Culture for Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) confirmed that it has submitted an Additional Budget Allocation (ABT) of Rp181 trillion to the DPR. The ABT submission by Mendikdasmen is not for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. ‘We have briefed the DPR on this ABT,’ Mendikdasmen Minister Prof Dr Abdul Mu’ti said after a coordination meeting on the MBG programme at the Central Java Provincial Government Office in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday, 3 March 2026. After briefing the ABT submission, the ministry is now awaiting a decision from the DPR. ‘We are in a position of waiting for the decision,’ Mu’ti added. ABT, or Anggaran Belanja Tambahan, refers to an urgent additional allocation requested within the current budget year for programmes that require extra funding.
The first programme proposed in the ABT is funding for the revitalisation of 20,000 educational units (Satuan Pendidikan), as many schools are in poor condition. ‘We have submitted an additional budget for the revitalisation of 20,000 Satuan Pendidikan,’ said the Secretary General of Muhammadiyah.
The second programme is Education Digitalisation. In line with President Prabowo Subianto’s direction, each educational unit will receive an additional Interaktif Flat Panel (IFP) or Digital Interactive Panel (PID). In 2026, the ministry plans to distribute IFPs to more than 325,000 Satuan Pendidikan. ‘For digitalisation, we will distribute three IFPs per educational unit.’
Another programme approved by the DPR is a scholarship programme for teachers who have not yet obtained a Diploma 4 (D4) or Bachelor’s degree (S1). Under this programme, teachers will receive a scholarship of Rp3 million per semester. ‘The scholarships will be provided to 150,000 teachers across Indonesia,’ Mu’ti said.
Contract teachers will also receive increased incentives under the ABT proposal. ‘Incentives for contract teachers will be raised from Rp300 thousand to Rp400 thousand,’ Mu’ti said.
Meanwhile, the MBG programme is described by Mendikdasmen as an integral part of the ministry’s programme. ‘MBG is closely linked to the 7 Indonesias Great Habits programme, including waking up early, worship, physical exercise, healthy and nutritious eating, diligent study, community involvement, and going to bed early,’ Mu’ti said. MBG is also part of the Character Education programme, a priority of the President and the Ministry of Education and Culture, comprising spiritual and social values, orderliness, discipline, responsibility, leadership, a culture of cleanliness, etiquette, and more. ‘So MBG has a very direct connection with the ministry’s programme,’ Mu’ti added.
Mu’ti then noted that, according to the latest report from the Secretary General of Mendikdasmen, MBG recipients stand at 49,614,433 students out of a total of 53,394,088 students nationwide, or 93 percent coverage. The number of schools receiving MBG is 288,845 out of 434,812 schools, about 66.5 percent coverage. ‘Thus, the achievement is already very high,’ the Minister said.
Mendikdasmen has also found interesting preliminary results about MBG’s contribution to character education and student motivation. A collaboration with Lab Sosio at Universitas Indonesia indicates MBG helps students, particularly those from lower socio-economic groups, access nutritious meals. MBG also provides a pleasant dining experience and fosters greater enthusiasm for learning. The programme is popular and valued by students, and it is hoped to be sustained and improved in quality.
Chairman of the DPR’s Commission XI, Mukhamad Misbakhun, stressed that the Free Nutritious Meals programme does not reduce the funding for education infrastructure within the APBN. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya also confirmed that MBG does not cut education budgeting, countering circulating narratives. ‘MBG should be implemented without undermining spending on education infrastructure,’ a cabinet official said.