Palace Respects Constitutional Court Ruling on Separating Free Nutritious Meal Budget from Education: We Will Study It First, Please Give Us Time

Jakarta, VIVA – The government has stated that it respects the ruling of the Constitutional Court (MK) ordering that the budget for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme no longer form part of the education budget.

Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi said the government had received information about the Constitutional Court’s ruling. Nevertheless, the government is still awaiting an official copy of the decision before determining its next steps.

“We have also received information that the MK has taken a decision. But because we are currently out of town, we have not yet officially received a copy of the decision,” said Prasetyo aboard a train travelling from Batang to Jakarta on Thursday, 30 July 2026.

Prasetyo emphasised that the government would study the contents of the ruling thoroughly once the official document is received.

“And of course, whatever the MK decides, we will certainly respect it and study it,” he said.

Constitutional Court Orders MBG Budget to Be Separated from Education Funds

In a ruling read out on Thursday, 30 July 2026, the Constitutional Court ordered that the MBG budget be separated from the education budget no later than the preparation of the State Budget (APBN) for Fiscal Year 2028.

The ruling resulted from a judicial review of provisions in Law Number 17 of 2025 on the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which regulated the use of the education budget to fund the MBG programme.

In its considerations, the Court stated that the education budget must be prioritised to meet the core needs of the education sector, such as the provision of facilities and infrastructure, the financing of teaching staff, and improving public access to educational services.

Meanwhile, the MBG programme was deemed to have a broader scope of objectives, as it relates to fulfilling the public’s nutritional and health needs. For this reason, the Court was of the view that the programme should receive its own budget allocation within the APBN.

Palace Says Budget Discussions Involve the House of Representatives

Prasetyo Hadi explained that adjustments to the MBG programme budget are not solely within the government’s authority.

According to him, the drafting of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget is carried out together with the House of Representatives (DPR), so any change in the budget structure must be discussed jointly.

“Because we draft the budget together with our colleagues in the DPR. So please give us time,” said Prasetyo.