JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan ensures that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program is running well and in accordance with the nutritional standards set by the government.
"Everyone is happy, everyone is happy. Children are happy to receive nutritious food, including high school students and their equivalents, also welcome the MBG Program," he said during a working visit to Jepara Regency to review the implementation of the MBG program at a number of high schools / equivalent in Jepara, Central Java, Tuesday, March 10 reported by ANTARA.
Also present were the Regent of Jepara Witiarso Utomo, Deputy Regent Ibnu Hajar and his staff. The target of the visit includes SMA Negeri 1 Jepara, SMK Negeri 3 Jepara, and MAN 1 Jepara.
Zulhas, the nickname of the Coordinating Minister for Food, explained in general terms that the implementation of MBG in public schools, both state and private, has been almost complete. Around 97 percent of public schools such as SMP and SMA have received the program's services. However, for schools based on religion or madrasah and pesantren, coverage still needs to be improved.
The main obstacle faced, he said, was related to the incomplete data collection of students. Meanwhile, in public schools are relatively more complete so that the distribution process of the program can run faster.
Zulkifli, who also took the time to have a dialogue with students, motivated the students by telling them about the journey of food before it reached the dining table.
Through the story, he hopes that students can appreciate food more and no longer waste food. Eating nutritious food is very important for body growth and brain development.
Jepara Regent Witiarso Utomo assessed that the MBG Program was a strategic step to improve the quality of human resources from school age. The local government is also ready to fully support the implementation of the program so that it reaches all schools in Jepara.
"The Jepara Regency Government will continue to coordinate with the central government and related institutions so that data collection in schools, including madrasahs and pesantren boarding schools, can be immediately completed so that all students can feel the benefits of the MBG Program," he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Jepara Regency Religious Affairs Office, Akhsan Muhyiddin, said the number of madrasahs in Jepara Regency ranging from MI to MA, both state and private, is as many as 580 madrasahs.
Of this number, around 90 percent received MBG Program services, while the other 10 percent are still in the process of data collection and program adjustment.
"One of them is MAN 1 Jepara which today (Tuesday, 10/3) was visited by the Coordinating Minister for Food. God willing, after Lebaran it can be because it has entered the SPPG data," he said.
He hopes that in the future all madrasahs in Jepara can be served by President Prabowo Subianto's flagship program. With the fulfillment of the nutritional needs of students, it is hoped that the quality of education in madrasahs will also increase and have an impact on their learning quality and achievements.
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