Schools Closed Due to Forest Fire Haze, Free Nutritious Meals Programme Still Running?

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has stated that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme is not distributed to pupils when schools are closed due to forest and land fires (karhutla).

BGN Head Sudaryono said that MBG distribution follows school operations. When schools are not carrying out teaching and learning activities due to emergency conditions, MBG distribution is also halted.

“Karhutla, you see… the SPPG serves and sends MBG during school operating hours. In the case of karhutla in several regions, the food has already been cooked when they are then informed that the school is closed because of the karhutla,” Sudaryono said when met at the Coordinating Ministry for Food office in Jakarta on Wednesday (26/8/2026).

Sudaryono stressed that while schools remain closed and learning is conducted online or through distance learning (PJJ), MBG is not provided to pupils.

“During PJJ, during online learning, they do not attend school, so we do not provide MBG,” he said.

According to Sudaryono, the policy applies because MBG is intended for beneficiaries who are carrying out activities at school. Therefore, when schools are not operating, food distribution is also halted.

However, there is a special condition when a school has just been closed after food production has already begun. In such circumstances, BGN does not immediately stop distribution because the food ingredients have already been purchased and some have been processed.

“So we clarify again that what is distributed is what has already been bought — the food ingredients were purchased the previous day. So some of it has already been cooked,” he explained.

Sudaryono explained that food that has already been cooked is still distributed through a specific mechanism so that it is not wasted. Distribution is carried out after coordination with the regional government and relevant parties.

“The ingredients that have already been purchased are still cooked, and then we coordinate with the regional disaster management agency, the regional head, and the authorities in that area on the mechanism so that the food is not thrown away,” he said.

One mechanism is for the food to be collected by pupils’ parents. This scheme is implemented on the first day when the food has already been produced, while the school subsequently decides to close due to the haze.

Nevertheless, Sudaryono stressed that such distribution does not continue for as long as the school remains closed.

“But after that, on the following day there is no more, because the school is not operating. The school is closed because of the haze,” Sudaryono explained.

BGN, he said, has issued a circular to the kitchens of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) regarding the mechanism for MBG distribution when schools are closed due to certain conditions.

“So we have issued a circular like that to the kitchens, so that when the school is closed, it is not given — only on the first day because the food has already been cooked,” he said.

Sudaryono said the mechanism has been implemented in a number of regions affected by karhutla, including Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan and several areas in Sumatra.