Sudaryono: Grobogan School Was Already Damaged Before Free Nutritious Meal Programme

Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono, has spoken out regarding a viral photograph showing primary school students in Grobogan, Central Java, eating Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) in front of a dilapidated classroom. Sudaryono stated that the school was already damaged long before the MBG programme was launched. “Previously, there was no MBG, and the school was damaged before the MBG existed. Is that not correct? Let us be objective; the school was damaged before the MBG programme. Now, it is being repaired by the President (Prabowo),” Sudaryono told reporters at the BGN Office in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, 29 July 2026. Sudaryono then requested that members of the public who find damaged schools immediately report them to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen). “So it is actually quite simple; if you find a damaged school, just report it. There is a portal at the Ministry of Education, and it will definitely be repaired,” he said. He further explained that the government renovated 16,000 schools in 2025. This year, 70,000 damaged schools are slated for repair. “This year, more than 70,000 are to be renovated; in fact, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education has stated that it could be almost 90,000 schools, directly handled by the central government,” Sudaryono concluded.