Government Prepares Evaluation Of The Impact Of MBG On Beneficiaries

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Adita Irawati said the government would prepare a special evaluation to measure the impact of the Free Nutrition Food Program (MBG) on beneficiaries, such as students in schools.

The measurement, said Adita, will be carried out in a structured and systematic manner, including including including the group that previously underwent MBG during the trial period before the program was officially released last week.

"There will definitely be an evaluation (the impact of MBG on beneficiaries) yes, from several trials that we did. Because actually free nutritious food was tested 10-11 months ago," Adita said in South Tangerang, Banten, Monday, January 13.

Even so, so far the government has received testimonials from schools that are the locations for the MBG Program trial which are dominated by positive responses and teachers' satisfaction.

Adita said there were several good things that increased from MBG beneficiary students, including concentration following lessons, desire to participate, and attendance in class.

"So there are three. Participation, attendance, concentration. That becomes more. But still, we will certainly evaluate it from the impact. Because if the implementation is done, the output already exists, but it seems that the impact will be evaluated again," said Adita.

According to Adita, the official evaluation of the MBG program will be carried out within the next one to two months, so that the data obtained can be more optimal.

The MBG program is a priority program from President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

This program was officially launched last week Monday (6/1) at 190 points in Indonesia. In the early stages of the MBG Program, it will target around 3 million beneficiaries in the first three months, with a target of increasing to 6 million recipients in the following three months.

Beneficiaries include children aged PAUD to SMA, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. To support the implementation, as many as 937 public kitchens have been prepared.