State Budget Law Challenged at Constitutional Court; Parliament Says Free Meal Programme Does Not Use Education Funds
Deputy Chairman of House Commission X, Lalu Hadrian Irfani, has stated that education funds in the state budget are not being used for the operational costs of the free nutritious meal (MBG) programme. His remarks were made in response to a legal challenge against Law No. 17 of 2025 on the State Budget (APBN), which has been filed for judicial review at the Constitutional Court by an honorary teacher, three university students, and the Taman Belajar Nusantara Foundation.
According to Lalu, Commission X — which serves as the working partner of the Ministry of Education — has found no evidence that education funding has been allocated to implement the MBG programme. "We know that education funding has not been taken by MBG," said the National Awakening Party (PKB) politician at the Parliament complex in Jakarta on Friday, 20 February 2026.
Lalu rejected the notion that teacher welfare shortfalls are caused by education funds being diverted to President Prabowo Subianto's priority programme. He expressed confidence that the constitutionally mandated 20 per cent allocation from the state budget remains intact for the education sector, including educator welfare. He therefore called on the government to use the available budget to improve teachers' welfare.
"Because we already know it is not true [that education funds are being used for MBG], this substantial budget should be channelled towards teacher welfare. That is what we are pushing for," Lalu said.
Nevertheless, Lalu deferred more detailed explanations regarding the MBG budget allocation to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). He noted that the BGN has its own separate budget, which does not interfere with education funding.
Lalu said that the MBG programme, which has long been planned by Prabowo, must already have a well-prepared budget scenario. Although the primary target of MBG is school students, Lalu reiterated that the programme does not encroach upon education allocations. "To this day, there is no proof that MBG has taken a single rupiah from the education budget," he said.
The challenge against the 2026 State Budget Law has been registered at the Constitutional Court Registry under Case No. 40/PUU-XXIV/2026. Abdul Hakim, a lawyer from the Dignity Law legal team, said his clients filed the challenge to safeguard the mandate of Article 31(4) of the 1945 Constitution, which requires that 20 per cent of the state budget be prioritised for national education needs.
Abdul argued that the provisions of Article 22(3) and its Elucidation in the 2026 State Budget Law have expanded the definition of operational education funding to include the financing of the MBG programme. He contended that the programme is not directly related to the core function of education.
The petition explains that of the total 2026 education budget of Rp 769.1 trillion, approximately Rp 223 trillion has been allocated to fund MBG. This means that nearly 29 per cent of the education budget is absorbed by the programme.
"This budget shift reduces the fiscal space for more pressing education needs, such as improving teacher quality, school infrastructure, education grants, and equitable access to education," he said.
Abdul highlighted the tangible impact of this budgeting policy on educators, particularly honorary teachers. In various regions, teacher salary cuts have been observed as part of education budget efficiency measures. At the same time, a substantial budget has been redirected to finance the MBG programme. He noted that the salaries of nutrition service units (SPPG) within the MBG programme are considerably higher than the earnings of honorary teachers, who receive only around Rp 200,000–300,000 per month.
According to Lalu, Commission X — which serves as the working partner of the Ministry of Education — has found no evidence that education funding has been allocated to implement the MBG programme. "We know that education funding has not been taken by MBG," said the National Awakening Party (PKB) politician at the Parliament complex in Jakarta on Friday, 20 February 2026.
Lalu rejected the notion that teacher welfare shortfalls are caused by education funds being diverted to President Prabowo Subianto's priority programme. He expressed confidence that the constitutionally mandated 20 per cent allocation from the state budget remains intact for the education sector, including educator welfare. He therefore called on the government to use the available budget to improve teachers' welfare.
"Because we already know it is not true [that education funds are being used for MBG], this substantial budget should be channelled towards teacher welfare. That is what we are pushing for," Lalu said.
Nevertheless, Lalu deferred more detailed explanations regarding the MBG budget allocation to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). He noted that the BGN has its own separate budget, which does not interfere with education funding.
Lalu said that the MBG programme, which has long been planned by Prabowo, must already have a well-prepared budget scenario. Although the primary target of MBG is school students, Lalu reiterated that the programme does not encroach upon education allocations. "To this day, there is no proof that MBG has taken a single rupiah from the education budget," he said.
The challenge against the 2026 State Budget Law has been registered at the Constitutional Court Registry under Case No. 40/PUU-XXIV/2026. Abdul Hakim, a lawyer from the Dignity Law legal team, said his clients filed the challenge to safeguard the mandate of Article 31(4) of the 1945 Constitution, which requires that 20 per cent of the state budget be prioritised for national education needs.
Abdul argued that the provisions of Article 22(3) and its Elucidation in the 2026 State Budget Law have expanded the definition of operational education funding to include the financing of the MBG programme. He contended that the programme is not directly related to the core function of education.
The petition explains that of the total 2026 education budget of Rp 769.1 trillion, approximately Rp 223 trillion has been allocated to fund MBG. This means that nearly 29 per cent of the education budget is absorbed by the programme.
"This budget shift reduces the fiscal space for more pressing education needs, such as improving teacher quality, school infrastructure, education grants, and equitable access to education," he said.
Abdul highlighted the tangible impact of this budgeting policy on educators, particularly honorary teachers. In various regions, teacher salary cuts have been observed as part of education budget efficiency measures. At the same time, a substantial budget has been redirected to finance the MBG programme. He noted that the salaries of nutrition service units (SPPG) within the MBG programme are considerably higher than the earnings of honorary teachers, who receive only around Rp 200,000–300,000 per month.