Tangerang DPRD Supports Involving School Canteens in Free Nutritious Meal Programme

The Tangerang City DPRD supports the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s plan to involve school canteens in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. Commission II member Jusman Said stated that the scheme could potentially increase the programme’s implementation efficiency while boosting economic circulation in the community surrounding the school environment.

"In principle, we agree. If managed through school canteens, there will be extraordinary efficiency because it no longer requires long distribution chains. Food can also be served fresher as it is processed directly within the school environment," Jusman said in a statement in Tangerang on Tuesday.

According to him, involving school canteens can provide a positive economic impact through the participation of local business operators as suppliers of foodstuffs, ranging from vegetables and eggs to meat. Furthermore, supervision of food quality and the fulfilment of students’ nutritional needs will be easier to conduct.

"With management by the school canteen, supervision becomes easier and students’ needs can be better attended to, both in terms of nutrition and menu suitability," he said.

Previously, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti confirmed that the MBG programme will continue as it has received broad support from students. During a working visit to Kudus Regency, Central Java, he said that 43.4 million pupils, or approximately 80.94 per cent of the total 53.5 million pupils in Indonesia, are receiving benefits from the programme.

According to him, the government is preparing several adjustments to the programme’s implementation, including the possibility of involving school canteens as providers of nutritious meals. The government will also adjust the target recipients to make the programme more effective, prioritising schools whose pupils are in greater need of MBG assistance.