MBG has been accepted by 80.7 percent of students, the government opens school canteen options

JAKARTA - The Free Nutritious Meal or MBG program has been accepted by 80.7 percent of students as of June 10. Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti said that out of more than 53 million students, about 43 million have received MBG.

Mu’ti said MBG was part of the 7 Great Indonesian Habits program. The program includes getting up early, praying, exercising, eating healthy nutritious food, being a good student, being a community member, and sleeping early.

"So we make MBG part of strengthening character education," said Mu'ti at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Thursday, June 11.

According to Mu’ti, a number of studies, including from the University of Indonesia, show the positive impact of MBG on learning motivation, school attendance, and academic achievement.

The Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the government was also arranging the possibility of school canteens' involvement in the implementation of MBG, especially in certain zones.

According to Prasetyo, this option is part of a comprehensive arrangement at the National Nutrition Agency.

"It is also included in one of the things we will try to see if it is appropriate to be implemented in certain zones," he said.