JAKARTA - Free Nutrition Food (MBG), Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka's government mainstay program, officially started at 190 points in 26 provinces, including at SD Negeri Susukan 01, Ciracas, East Jakarta.
Every 08.50 WIB, Mr. Guru and Mrs. Teacher usually close the book with a small smile. "Both, children, now is the time to rest," they said. Without a bell or bell, the class that was originally calm immediately changed boisterous. The chairs were shaking as the children rushed out, some headed to the yard, some went to the canteen.
However, that atmosphere was not seen on Monday, January 6, 2025. When the time showed at 08.50 WIB, the students remained in class. That day, the aroma of warm white rice, fried chicken, spinach and corn, as well as watermelons filled the air.
Although full of joy, the first day of MBG at this school could not be separated from obstacles. The spinach and corn served taste sour like stale, making some students reluctant to touch it.
On the second day, the MBG menu changed to carrots and beans, orak-arik eggs, fried tempeh, and oranges. However, Raka, a 2nd grade student, is still reluctant to touch his vegetables, even though they are not spinach vegetables and corn served on the first day.
"Why don't you eat the vegetables? The vegetables are healthy, you know!" asked the teacher.
Raka shook. "I've never eaten vegetables at home."
The teacher smiled. "It made a strong body. Try eating a little first, you'll love it for a long time!"
Hearing that, his classmates encouraged him. "Come on, Raka, eat the vegetables!" they exclaimed.
For Keanu, this program means a lot. To his homeroom teacher, he said that so far he rarely had breakfast because his mother had left for work before he woke up. Even if there is food, he often believes in it. The information obtained states that Keanu grew up by his mother alone.
On the second day of MBG, this school received a visit from the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifah Fauzi. At that time, a student confidently conveyed a rhyme in front of the minister:
"Going to the fish market, don't forget to buy sardines, Today we eat, Thank you Mr. President."
Instantly, the lively applause echoed in the room. At SDN Susukan 01, Ciracas, East Jakarta, 374 portions of MBG are presented every day. This program not only fills the students' stomach with nutritious food, but also brings new stories on the classroom table.
KPAI Highlights Evaluation Of Free Nutrition Eating Programs
It has been more than a month since the Free Nutrition Food Program (MBG) was launched on January 6, 2025. A number of parties have provided notes on its implementation, including the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), which emphasizes the importance of evaluation so that this program runs more optimally and in accordance with children's needs.
In its supervision, KPAI found several obstacles in the field. In two locations visited by East Jakarta and South Jakarta there were delays in distribution of food from provider kitchens to schools. As a result, a lot of food is wasted because students have eaten early.
In addition, some students experience allergies to the food served. "Menu for children with allergies must be separated immediately," said KPAI Deputy Chair, Jasra Putra. He also highlighted students who are not used to eating rice or vegetables, which shows that eating at home also affects the effectiveness of this program.
KPAI also found inconsistencies in the MBG implementation schedule. There are days where students do not get food, as well as SOPs that are not yet uniform. For example, in several schools, food is only given during study hours, thus disrupting the learning process. "Sowal needs to be adjusted so as not to interfere with the curriculum," said Jasra.
Even so, KPAI appreciates the MBG program because it has a noble purpose in overcoming nutritional problems, especially stunting. However, the implementation for pregnant women is still experiencing technical problems, such as the difficulty of distributing food to those who work. "There is no clear formulation from the government regarding MBG for pregnant women, even though this is crucial in preventing stunting," he added.
Involve Children In Evaluation
KPAI recommends that MBG's evaluation also involve children as the main beneficiaries. "Their voices are important. Don't let the children feel neglected," said Jasra. He gave an example of the situation in Papua, where children prefer free education over free food, possibly because of a lack of understanding of the importance of nutrition.
KPAI advises the government to provide communication channels, such as online forums, so that children can express their opinions. "There are children who are waiting for their turn to get MBG. They need to be given clear information," he said.
Beware Of Risks Of Obesity And Food Safety
In addition to stunting, KPAI also warns of the risk of obesity due to an incommensurate diet. Data in 2023 shows an increase in obesity in urban areas. Therefore, the composition of food in MBG must pay attention to nutritional balance, especially levels of fat, sugar, and salt.
Food safety must also be a priority. KPAI alluded to the poisoning case in Sukoharjo, which must be used as a lesson so as not to repeat it. In addition, budget efficiency should not sacrifice the quality of food. "The more the program coverage, the more vulnerable the quality will decrease. Don't let this happen to MBG," said Jasra.
Despite the challenges, KPAI still fully supports MBG because of its great benefits. "Foating 84.3 million children per day is not easy, but if strict supervision and quality are maintained, this program will have a tremendous impact on future generations," he concluded.
Evaluation For Problem Identification
Evaluation is an important step to identify obstacles, ranging from distribution, food quality, to other budget and technical aspects. With the right evaluation, the program can be more effective and on target, while preventing budget waste.
Spokesperson for the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), Dedek Prayudi or Uki, emphasized that the evaluation had been carried out since the first day of this program. He emphasized that early evaluation was not a sign of failure, but an effort to ensure the success of the program.
"In general, the President is satisfied with the implementation of the MBG, but he asked for additional kitchens for the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) to increase service coverage," said Uki.
As part of the evaluation, SPPG reviews the MBG menu every 20 days and replaces it with a new choice to keep it varied and nutritious.
Regarding the incident at SD Negeri Dukuh 03, Sukoharjo, Central Java, where 40 students experienced symptoms after eating MBG food on January 16, 2025, Uki explained that the results of the evaluation showed that only one student experienced nausea and vomiting, while the other only felt light dizziness.
"In the future, we hope that similar incidents don't happen again," he said.
Regarding budget efficiency, Uki ensured that the cuts only occurred in the procurement of SPPG land worth Rp. 200.2 billion. The rest, the MBG budget remains safe and is not affected.
"This means that this cuts will not have an impact on the implementation of the MBG program that has been running," he said.
The National Nutrition Agency has also prepared a solution to the limited land acquisition of SPPG. President Prabowo Subianto really wants to accelerate the addition of kitchens in order to increase the capacity to provide nutritious food.
"This evaluation also includes quantity. The addition of the kitchen means an increase in the number of MBG portions that can be distributed," concluded Uki.
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