Parents and Students in Batam Rally in Support of Free Nutritious Meal Programme Continuation
The Batam City Education Office (Disdik) in Riau Islands has reported that members of the public held a parade in the city centre to support the continuity of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme.
The Head of the Batam City Education Office, Hendri Arulan, stated that the activity served as a platform to gather the aspirations and hopes of parents who were previously concerned when the MBG implementation had temporarily ceased operations.
“Today, the community held a parade to support the MBG. We are certainly addressing the anxieties of parents regarding the MBG Programme, which experienced some setbacks a short while ago,” Hendri said in Batam on Sunday.
Previously, more than 50 kitchens within the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) in the city had temporarily halted operations due to delays in the disbursement of operational funds; however, all units have now returned to serving beneficiaries.
According to Hendri, the MBG is a strategic government programme aimed at improving the nutritional quality of students while supporting the teaching and learning process in schools.
“This is a programme of the President of the Republic of Indonesia to meet the nutritional needs of children and to provide them with the motivation to be more enthusiastic about studying in their respective schools,” he said.
Hendri explained that the nutritious food intake received by students through this programme is believed to enhance concentration and physical fitness during learning activities.
He noted that while the benefits of the programme may not be felt instantly, it will have a significant impact on the quality of Indonesia’s human resources in the future.
“The results may not be instant, but one generation from now, a great, strong, and high-achieving young generation will certainly be born, moving towards Indonesia Emas 2045,” he added.
Yasdan, a student at SDN 004 Sekupang, expressed his happiness with the MBG programme and hopes that it will continue.
“The MBG at school is good; I want it to continue because the food is delicious,” said Yasdan.