The Free Nutritious Meal Program (Makan Bergizi Gratis/MBG) has been running for ten months but continues to face persistent issues.
Intended to improve the nutritional quality of Indonesian children, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, the program has instead encountered recurring problems, ranging from monotonous menus and inadequate nutrition to cases of food poisoning.
In several regions, hundreds of students have fallen ill, and some have even lost their lives due to spoiled meals.
Professor R. Agus Sartono from the Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), stated that the MBG program, while conceptually strong, has faltered in implementation.
“Learning from developed countries, the idea behind MBG is commendable. It serves several key purposes. First, improving children’s nutrition during their growth period through proper meals; second, fostering social cohesion as children share the same food, nurturing empathy and social awareness,” he said on Friday (Oct. 3).
Professor Sartono further explained that the program also instills discipline among students as they learn to queue for meals and clean up afterward, fosters responsibility by encouraging them to take only what they need, and reduces food waste.
Moreover, it has the potential to generate multiplier effects for economic growth, reduce inequality, create jobs, and curb urban migration.
“The challenge lies not in the idea itself but in its delivery mechanism, which has led to negative perceptions and, unfortunately, cases of food poisoning,” Professor Sartono remarked.
He emphasized that the program’s scale is vast, covering 55.1 million students across Indonesia, including 28.2 million elementary students, 13.4 million junior high students, 12.2 million high school/vocational students, and 2.3 million students in non-formal or special needs education. With IDR 15,000 allocated per student, the total required budget reaches IDR 247.95 trillion.
This amount, he noted, far exceeds the 2025 Village Fund (Dana Desa) allocation of IDR 71 trillion, and when combined with the education budget transfer of IDR 347 trillion, brings total circulating regional funds to IDR 665.95 trillion.
“The number is enormous and should, in theory, drive consumption and economic growth. Yet again, the issue comes down to poor delivery mechanisms,” the expert explained.
Professor Sartono emphasized that other social assistance programs, such as the School Operational Assistance (BOS), Smart Indonesia Card (KIP), and Family Hope Program (PKH), have been effective in targeting students and low-income households for a considerable period.
“Why not use the existing mechanisms? The Local Government Law (Law No. 23 of 2014) already stipulates that education is a concurrent government function, where regencies/cities manage elementary and junior high schools, provinces manage high schools, and religious education falls under the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” he said.
Therefore, Professor Sartono suggested delegating MBG management to local governments in accordance with the law, with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) serving primarily as a monitoring body. Empowering local governments, he argued, would streamline coordination and improve success rates.
Drawing from international best practices, Professor Sartono proposed that MBG be implemented through school canteens, ensuring that meals are fresh, safe, and locally sourced.
“With smaller, controlled scales, schools and their committees can manage this well. This approach is far better than the current centralized system, which allows food to spoil during long distribution chains,” the expert explained.
He added that sourcing ingredients from local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) would stimulate local economies. This would allow schools to receive the full IDR 15,000 per portion, rather than the current average of IDR 7,000. Alternatively, he suggested direct cash transfers to students, empowering parents to prepare their own meals at home.
“Under this model, BGN would only need to issue technical guidelines and oversee implementation. Teachers could also monitor compliance; if a child fails to bring meals for a month, the parents could be called in. Such an approach would not only prevent rent-seeking but also enhance efficiency. Funds could be transferred monthly to students, similar to the KIP or BOS systems,” he stated.
Professor Sartono warned that recent MBG food poisoning cases stem from the lengthy distribution chain, where large private companies dominate the supply process.
“It is disheartening that from the intended IDR 15,000 per portion, only IDR 7,000 reaches the students. The MBG program risks turning into a ‘Free Rent-Seeking Meal Program’ for big corporations,” he lamented.
He calculated that if each meal carries a profit margin of IDR 2,000 and one supplier serves 3,000 portions, the company could gain IDR 150 million per month, or IDR 1.8 billion per year. Nationwide, this margin (representing roughly 13 percent) could total IDR 33.3 trillion in potential rent-seeking profits.
“It’s not too late to fix this. Let’s shorten the MBG distribution chain, eliminate rent-seeking practices, and ensure that this truly becomes a Free Nutritious Meal Program for students,” he concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: FEB UGM & Freepik