MBG's Portion In The Education Budget Betrays The Constitution

A photo by Luthfiah VOI

The government has allocated an education budget of IDR 757.8 trillion in the 2026 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget Draft (APBN), an increase of IDR 724.3 trillion in the 2025 State Budget. Unfortunately, the allocation of the education budget, called President Prabowo Subianto, is considered 'largest in history', which is considered not appropriate to fix education in Indonesia.

Initially, almost half of the 2026 RAPBN education budget, precisely Rp335 trillion, will be allocated to the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program. However, in the latest statement, the government corrected the allocation of the education budget in the 2026 State Budget for the portion of the MBG program. Initially the MBG portion was IDR 335 trillion, down to IDR 223.6 trillion.

"The BMG included in the education budget is IDR 223.6 trillion based on the number of students and students who will enjoy MBG in 2026, amounting to 71.9 million students and students," said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani during a meeting with the DPR Budget Agency, last Thursday, August 21.

He explained that the MBG target for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and early childhood will be included in the health budget category of IDR 24.7 trillion, and IDR 19.7 trillion is the economic function budget. The Minister of Finance emphasized that the allocation of education budgets in the 2026 RAPBN will continue to increase from 2025. Of the Rp757.8 trillion (education allocation in the 2026 RAPBN), this means an increase of 9.8 percent compared to 2025, the outlook is Rp690 trillion," he added.

When compared to the previous presentation of Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani on Friday, August 15, there was indeed an increase in the allocation of education budgets for beneficiaries of teachers, lecturers and education personnel. Initially, the budget was IDR 178.7 trillion, an increase to IDR 274.7 trillion. "From the education budget which was directly enjoyed by lecturers, teachers and educators was IDR 274.7 trillion, this is also an increase from the previous year," said Sri Mulyani.

However, this increase only occurred in teachers, lecturers and educators with ASN status, with details on the Transfer of the Regional ASN Teacher Profession from Rp68.7 trillion to Rp69 trillion. Then, the Transfer of Teacher Profession, Lecturers and Educators' Salaries rose from Rp82.9 trillion to Rp120.3 trillion.

MBG Allocation In Education Budget Damages Education System

The budget politics or the allocation of the education budget in the 2026 RAPBN era of President Prabowo is assessed by the National Coordinator of the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), Ubaid Matraji has crashed into the constitution, especially by diverting such a large budget for MBG, while constitutional obligations for education without being charged are ignored.

According to him, based on the 2026 RAPBN, President Prabowo Subianto openly ignored the order of the Constitutional Court (MK) regarding the implementation of schools free of charge. This order has been confirmed twice, in case decision number 3 / PUU-XXII / 2024 and reiterated in case decision number 111 / PUU-XXIII / 2025. This repeated affirmation should be an important and urgent signal, but the government instead chooses to prioritize the MBG program which is not even mandated in the constitution," said Ubaid, Monday, August 25, 2025.

He emphasized that the allocation of the MBG program that annexs the allocation of the education budget will damage the education system in Indonesia. "Moreover, it has damaged and then legitimized as if repairing it is very dangerous. The MBG budget should not be taken from the education budget," he said.

"This means that if it is related to education, everything can be related, for example building a bridge can also involve the world of education because school children go through bridges. So if you build a bridge using the education budget on the grounds that the children go there when they go to school, this is different, this is a matter of general work, another ministry," continued Ubaid.

The Head of P2G Teacher's Advocacy Division, Iman Zanatul Haeri, revealed that a large education budget should be focused on overcoming the problem of teacher shortages and school damage, especially in 3T areas, which have had a major impact on the quality of education. "Children have difficulty understanding the subject matter, the dropout rate has soared, and the gap in education between cities and remote areas is widening. If left unchecked, this will create social injustice and hinder the development of Indonesian human resources," he said.

"So we see this fantastic education budget that reaches Rp757 trillion from the state budget, but actually it is not enjoyed and has not had an impact on the welfare of non-ASN teachers," he added.

Iman stated that his party has made a list of fundamental issues for education and teachers that must be addressed and financed. Some have not even been touched by the government, such as there is no minimum wage standard for non-ASN and honorary teachers as mandated by the Law on Teachers and Lecturers, improvement of the mathematical, literacy and science capabilities of Indonesian students as evidenced by the results of PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) that the literacy and numeracy score of Indonesian students is relatively low compared to the average state Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Improving the competence of teachers. 1.4 million teachers and not yet receiving professional allowances. In addition, the government has also not realized the Constitutional Court's decision on free basic education in private schools and madrasas. However, the government has even created a Public School, Garuda's Superior High School which is interpreted as an implementation, to eliminate schools gradually. Even though that is not the meaning of the Constitutional Court's Decision, "explained Faith.

The chairman of the FSGI Expert Council, Retno Listyarti, added that the MBG budget should be allocated to cover the lack of financing in implementing the Constitutional Court's Decision. This is because the MBG program is not really necessary for students and schools that are in big cities, making it possible to be allocated to other, more urgent sectors. For certain areas that really need MBG, it can be prioritized. However, for those in big cities, it may be allocated to support the Constitutional Court's Decision," he said.

The same thing was stated by ICW researcher, Dewi Anggareni. According to her, the government should meet the budget needs to implement free basic education. One way, by rearranging budget allocations in non-urgent programs. One of them is MBG which is considered not a priority and tends to burden the state budget.

He explained that the education budget in 2025 from the APBN requires at least 20 percent to be allocated to the education sector. The problem is that 29 percent of the education budget allocation is for MBG program financing. This is not appropriate. That's why we suggest allocating it, or if necessary, just stop MBG," said Dewi.

The Government Must Consider The MBG Financing Scheme From Other Sources

The Dean of the Faculty of Teachers and Education (FKIP) of Muhammadiyah University Surabaya, Achmad Hidayatullah, assessed that the MBG program actually had a positive impact, both for improving students' nutrition and creating new jobs. However, he highlighted the large portion of the MBG budget taken from educational posts.

Which is a record and debate in the community, when the MBG budget is taken from the allocation of the education budget. If true, then the budget for scholarships, the welfare of teachers and lecturers, research, and education infrastructure is still small," he said.

According to him, the government needs to explain in more detail the MBG financing scheme and consider other sources of funding. This is because the constitutional mandate regarding the allocation of a minimum of 20 percent of the APBN for education must be maintained substantially, not just the formality of numbers.

Dayat also highlighted the lack of education support in underdeveloped areas, inadequate teacher welfare, to the lack of research budgets in universities. When compared to developed countries, our education budget is not only small, but also hampered by administrative complexities," he said.

On the other hand, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, is optimistic that the large allocation of the education budget in the 2026 RAPBN will have a real impact on the quality of education, including better facilities and infrastructure, improving teacher welfare and training and assistance for students through PIP.

He also ensured that various strategic programs, including School Operational Assistance (BOS), would still be distributed properly. "Hopefully with this budget, our education can be more advanced and more steps can be taken to improve the quality of education in Indonesia," he added.

Mu'ti explained, in the 2026 education budget also allocates incentive assistance for non-ASN teachers, wage subsidy assistance (BSU) for non-formal teachers (PAUD), and incentives for 12,500 teachers to take undergraduate education. The wage subsidy is given to 253,470 non-formal PAUD teachers, worth Rp600,000 for a total of two months. The total BSU of Rp125 billion has been transferred directly to the accounts of each teacher," he said.

Meanwhile, the total incentive for non-ASN teachers is IDR 2.1 million. This incentive was given to 341,248 teachers, transferred to the accounts of each teacher for a total of seven months. These programs are a government breakthrough, and at the same time a gift from Mr. President Prabowo for teachers, "added Mu'ti.

In addition to non-ASN teacher incentives, education level assistance, and wage subsidies, the Ministry of Education and Culture has also increased the number of revitalizations and renovations of school buildings by 32.4 percent. Last year, the revitalization and renovation of 10,395 schools, now to 13,763 schools. The Minister of Education also claimed that this year his party began digitizing education, including increasing teacher training to be skilled in terms of leadership, in-depth learning, and artificial intelligence.