Indonesia’s Government Defends Free Nutritious Meals Program, Denies Education Budget Cuts

Jakarta – Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya on Friday dismissed allegations that the government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program has led to cuts in the education budget. The clarification comes amid concerns raised by some parties that the MBG program is diverting funds from essential education initiatives.

Claims of Reduced Funding are “Unfounded”

Wijaya stated that claims the MBG program has reduced education funding, resulting in neglected schools and teachers, are “unfounded.” He emphasized that the 2026 education budget, amounting to 20 percent of the State Budget – approximately Rp769 trillion (nearly US$49 billion) – was jointly approved by the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) last year, with detailed allocations already in place. CNN Indonesia

“Some claim that the MBG program reduces education programs and budgets, resulting in neglected schools and teachers. I want to clarify that this claim is false,” Wijaya said. Detik.com

Existing Education Programs Remain in Place

Wijaya assured the public that all major education initiatives from the previous administration remain in place. Programs such as the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) and the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) continue, alongside new initiatives including the free boarding school program, Sekolah Rakyat, which targets school dropouts. CNN Indonesia

Addressing School Infrastructure Concerns

Regarding concerns about deteriorating school facilities, Wijaya explained that senior high schools fall under the purview of provincial governments, while elementary and junior high schools are managed by district and city administrations. He highlighted that the government renovated approximately 16,000 schools in 2025 with a budget of around Rp17 trillion. The government is also expanding digital learning infrastructure, having distributed 280,000 smartboard units, with plans to increase the number this year. CNN Indonesia

MBG Program Aims to Improve Human Capital

Wijaya stressed that the MBG program aims to improve human resource quality from an early age, thereby strengthening the broader education ecosystem. “This is the initial foundation for improving education,” he stated. CNN Indonesia

President Prabowo Subianto has previously stated that the MBG program is funded by reallocating resources saved through strict budget efficiency measures, rather than cutting existing priority budgets. These reallocated funds have enabled the government to provide free meals to over 60 million beneficiaries, including students, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and the elderly.