Indonesian court bans use of education funding for free school meals

Indonesia's Constitutional Court has decreed that the government's signature Free Nutritious Meals program must be disentangled from the national education budget. The ruling, delivered Thursday by chief judge Suhartoyo, requires the separation of funding streams within two years, though the court urged an earlier transition.

“

Funding for the Free Nutritious Meals program, which is currently classified as a component of education spending, must be separated from operational education funding.

The program, launched in 2025 to feed 83 million children and expectant mothers, had been classified as part of education spending. This classification drew challenges from students and educators who argued it violated the constitution by diverting funds from core learning functions. They contended that excluding the meals program's cost would drop education spending below the constitutionally mandated 20% of the state budget.

“

This kind of ruling is usually used by the government to keep a program going while making a few adjustments so it can continue operating while still complying with the constitution.

While the court found the current allocation did not breach the constitution this year, it stressed the need for distinct budgetary lines by the 2028 state budget. Teachers' groups, though welcoming the decision, expressed concern about potential government maneuvering to maintain the program's current structure. Iman Zanatul Haeri, head of teacher advocacy at the Education and Teachers' Association, called the ruling a "grey area" that could allow the government to continue the program with minor adjustments. He emphasized the need for the court to ensure education funds genuinely benefit educators and learning, warning that government implementation cannot be guaranteed.

“

With this decision, the constitutional court must ensure that education funding is used for the welfare of educators, including university lecturers.