Antara News·Indonesia·Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 08:39 AM UTC

Free meal program boosts students' school attendance: Minister

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Sean Filo, Raka Adji

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti stated that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program not only helps meet students' nutritional needs but also boosts school attendance.

During the signing of a cooperation agreement between the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education recently, Mu'ti highlighted the dual impact of the initiative.

"Numerous studies demonstrate a clear link between free nutritious meals and higher student attendance rates. Many children go to school because a healthy, nutritious meal awaits them," he said in an official statement in Jakarta on Sunday.

According to Mu’ti, the benefits of the free meal program in schools extend beyond physical health. It is also expected to foster enthusiasm for learning and help elevate the overall quality of education.

The minister noted that the initiative serves as an effective platform for early character building.

The daily school meal routine offers practical opportunities to instill positive habits, such as waiting patiently in line, practicing proper hygiene, praying before and after meals, and showing gratitude for food.

The routine is expected to reinforce character building through simple, consistent practices at school.

Consequently, the implementation of the MBG program is set to yield broader benefits for students. Beyond receiving nutritious food, children will learn positive behaviors applicable to their everyday lives.

Mu’ti added that the MBG recipient database for the education sector has been integrated with the Education Main Data (Dapodik) system. This integration is continuously refined to ensure that all beneficiaries are officially registered students.

Meanwhile, BGN Head Sudaryono expressed appreciation for the ministry's support for the free meal program implementation at schools.

The support is demonstrated through the provision of school infrastructure and facilities, the allocation of dedicated time for meal schedules, and the integration of nutrition education into the curriculum.

Targeting millions of beneficiaries nationwide, the MBG program was launched in early 2025 as a key program of the Prabowo Subianto administration to improve the nutritional status of toddlers, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and school-age children.

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