Free Nutritious Meal Program Helps Improve the Intelligence of the Nation’s Children
By: Nur Amalia S*)
The Indonesian government continues to demonstrate its commitment to improving the quality of education and welfare of children through the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG). This program not only aims to provide food for students, but is also part of a major strategy to improve the intelligence of the nation’s children. With adequate nutritional intake, it is hoped that children can grow healthily and have better intellectual abilities.
Since its launch in January 2025 in Sorong City, this program has been implemented in almost 300 schools with a total of nearly 60 thousand students receiving benefits. Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Wamendikdasmen), Fajar Riza Ul Haq, said that one of the main factors that influences students’ academic achievement is their physical condition while studying. According to him, many children come to school hungry, which results in a decrease in their concentration and absorption of the subject matter. Therefore, with MBG, every child can receive sufficient nutritional intake so that they can study more focused and optimally.
In addition to having a direct impact on health and concentration in learning, this program also provides additional benefits for the development of children’s character. With a regular meal schedule and nutritional supervision, students learn about the importance of a healthy diet, cleanliness, and discipline in carrying out daily routines. Educators at schools that have benefited from this program also acknowledge positive changes in students’ attitudes and enthusiasm for learning.
The Principal of SD Negeri 24 Rufei, Sorong City, Sientje Martentji Ajomi, said that since this program was running, students have looked more enthusiastic when it’s time to eat. She explained that after receiving nutritious food, children showed an increase in enthusiasm for learning, were more focused in class, and were more active in asking questions and participating in discussions. According to her, this change is a real impact of the increased nutritional intake obtained through MBG. She also hopes that this program will continue with additional nutritional intake such as milk to further complement students’ nutritional needs.
The increase in student enthusiasm and concentration was also felt by Mince Kambu, Principal of SD Negeri 9 Sorong City. She said that before this program, many students easily got tired and had difficulty focusing, especially on subjects that required logical thinking such as mathematics. However, since students routinely receive nutritious food, they are more enthusiastic in learning and even show increased attendance at school.
Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, stated that the adequate nutrition received by children through this program will contribute to increasing their intellectual intelligence. He explained that if children get enough nutrition from an early age, their brain growth will be more optimal, so that it is hoped that the next generation will have an average IQ above 120. According to him, if the level of intellectual intelligence of the Indonesian population increases, then the big goal of creating the Golden Generation of 2045 can be more easily realized.
During his visit to the Asoka Integrated PAUD in Makassar City, Coordinating Minister Zulkifli Hasan also emphasized the importance of menu variations in the MBG program. He observed that children’s food preferences in each region vary. According to him, this program is not only about providing food that children like, but must also ensure that they get a balanced combination of nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, vegetables, and fruit.
The government has allocated funds of IDR 71 trillion to support this program, and the amount will continue to increase to reach IDR 171 trillion by the end of 2025. The main priority is given to schools whose students come from lower-middle class families or areas with high levels of food insecurity. In this way, the program can have a more significant impact on children who really need support in terms of nutritional fulfillment. In addition to increasing children’s intelligence, the MBG program also has broader social benefits. With this policy, it is hoped that the dropout rate can be reduced because children are more motivated to attend school. On the other hand, this program also helps the economy of the surrounding community, especially local farmers and livestock breeders who are suppliers of food for this program.
