Indonesia Halts Free Meals for 80 Elite Private Schools Amid Program Overhaul

Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has removed 80 elite private schools from the list of recipients for its free nutritious meal (MBG) program. BGN head Sudaryono announced the decision as part of a broader overhaul aimed at re-evaluating beneficiaries across various regions. Private schools deemed capable of independently providing nutritious meals for their students will no longer receive state-funded meals.

Among the excluded institutions are boarding schools like the semi-military Taruna Nusantara High School and Kemala Bhayangkari School. Sudaryono noted that the status of MBG recipients can be verified through the MBG Radar system. This review also uncovered significant issues within the program, including approximately 6 million data overlaps where students were registered in multiple institutions, such as both Islamic boarding schools and public schools.

Furthermore, the BGN's review extended to budget distribution for MBG kitchens, identifying 414 kitchens that had received funds but were not yet operational. The agency has since withdrawn these funds, returning Rp311 billion to the state treasury. These measures are part of an evaluation of the MBG budget absorption, with the government having previously earmarked Rp240 trillion for the 2027 MBG budget.

The budget adjustments are attributed to the removal of elite schools, the correction of student data, and the streamlining of fund distribution. Sudaryono affirmed that BGN continues to review the program's data and budget allocation to ensure funds are utilized for their intended purpose. Recent related news includes ongoing efforts to develop a food spoilage scanner for free meals and President Prabowo's commitment to continuing the MBG program with improvements.

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We have excluded about 80 private schools from receiving the free nutritious meals.