Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) welcomes and appreciates the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) regarding the separation of the budget of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program from the education budget post. This decision is considered a crucial step to restore the allocation of education funds in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution (UUD).
The Chairman of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Hetifah Sjaifudian, emphasized that the allocation of 20 percent of the education budget in the State Budget must be refocused on operational needs and improving the quality of national education.
"We certainly appreciate the Supreme Court's decision. This decision confirms that the 20 percent education budget must be refocused on the core and operational needs of education in accordance with the constitutional mandate," said Hetifah in Jakarta, Friday (31/7/2026).
Education Budget Focus Returns to Main Components
Based on the Constitutional Court Decision Number 40/PUU-XXIV/2026, the allocation of education funds of at least 20 percent guaranteed by the constitution is intended specifically to finance the main components of education.
The Court emphasized that the main components of education include:
Learners; Educators and education personnel (including improvement of teachers' welfare); Provision and improvement of school facilities and infrastructure; Development of the learning curriculum; and Evaluation and development of the quality of education.The Constitutional Court considers nutrition fulfillment programs such as MBG not to be a major component of the implementation of education, so that its financing should not cut off the mandatory spending position of education.
Challenges of the Alternative Funding Scheme of the MBG Program
Until now, the financing of the MBG program has used a portion of the education function budget. With the MK's decision, the government is required to find alternative sources of funding.
Hetifah said that the legislature had not received a detailed replacement scheme from the government, especially for the 2027 Budget Year State Budget financing. Some options that the government can consider include:
Addition of new budget posts outside the education post; Reallocation of funds from the non-education sector; or Utilization of state reserve funds.Commission X of the DPR is Ready to Control the Discussion of the 2027 State Budget
The Constitutional Court has set a deadline of no later than two years or until the 2028 Fiscal Year State Budget to realize this budget separation. However, Commission X of the DPR RI will encourage that the budget adjustment can be realized earlier in the discussion of the 2027 State Budget.
Hetifah emphasized that if education funds were no longer cut for MBG, the DPR's main priority was to fight for:
Improvement of teachers' welfare and salaries; Equalization of school facilities and infrastructure in 3T areas; Improvement of the quality and accessibility of learning nationally.Background of the Material Test in the Constitutional Court
This decision originated from a request for a material test of the Explanation of Article 22 paragraph (3) of Law Number 17 of 2025 concerning the 2026 State Budget submitted by the Nusantara Learning Garden Foundation and a number of individual applicants.
The Constitutional Court stated that the rules in the 2026 State Budget Law created legal uncertainty and potentially violated Article 31 paragraphs (2) and (4) of the 1945 Indonesian Constitution. Therefore, the Constitutional Court granted a portion of the request and ordered the separation of the MBG budget from the education post.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
