JAKARTA - The government has denied allegations that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program "eats" the education budget. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said the narrative was wrong. The issue was again crowded after there was a spotlight on the attachment of the presidential decree and the figure of Rp. 223 trillion.
"Does this nutritious meal program reduce the education program? I answer, no. In fact, there is no strategic education program from the previous period that is not running now," said Teddy at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Friday, February 27.
Teddy explained that the education budget for 2026 had been agreed with the government and the DPR, including the DPR Budget Agency in September 2025.
The agreement includes the content and provisions of the education budget. When asked about PDIP's claim, Rp. 223 trillion MBG was taken from the education budget, Teddy repeated the basic explanation that the education budget was 20% of the state budget.
"This year, 769.1 trillion is 20%," he said.
According to him, the content and allocation of the budget were agreed upon by the government and the DPR through discussions in the Budget Agency.
"Which is also the head of the Banggar, PDIP," said the Secretary of the Cabinet.
Teddy also emphasized that in addition to existing programs such as KIP/PIP, President Prabowo Subianto added a "people's school" program for children who drop out of school or have never been to school, complete with accommodation, nutritious meals, education, and health insurance.
The Secretary of State admitted that the problem of damaged schools had been going on for a long time and was the authority of the local government, but the central government encouraged renovation.
Teddy said that by 2025, around 16,000 schools will be renovated with a budget of around Rp. 17 trillion through the Ministry of Education, and digital learning support through 280,000 TVs for 280,000 schools.
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