Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has stressed that schools are not required to participate in the government's Free Nutritious Meal program, known locally as MBG, emphasizing that the initiative is voluntary and must not involve coercion or intimidation.
Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, Deputy Head of BGN for Public Communication and Oversight, said participation in the flagship program should be based on need and consent, not pressure.
"Heads of nutrition service units must not force participation," Nanik said during a coordination and evaluation meeting of the MBG program with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) of Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
"If there are schools that choose not to accept MBG because their students come from well-off families, that is acceptable."
Her remarks followed complaints from a local nutrition service unit (SPPG) head in Banyuwangi, who reported difficulties in expanding the program's coverage after several elite schools, some with thousands of students, declined to participate despite outreach involving local military and police officials.
Nanik acknowledged that while the government aims to improve nutrition for all Indonesian children, the goal should not be pursued through coercive measures.
"Acceptance of the MBG program is voluntary. Schools that decline should not be seen as opposing government policy," she said.
Nanik also serves as the daily chair of the MBG Program Implementation Coordination Team, which involves 17 ministries and government agencies.
She added that resistance from elite schools should not be treated as a major setback, particularly if those schools and parents are able to meet students' nutritional needs independently.
Instead, BGN has urged program implementers to focus on communities with greater nutritional vulnerability.
"There are still many groups that have not been reached and urgently need support," Nanik said. "These include small Islamic boarding schools, school dropouts, street children of school age, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers."
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2082791/indonesias-bgn-says-schools-can-opt-out-of-free-meal-progra