MBG Program Has a Positive Impact on Students
By: Rina Maharani
The free nutritious food program (MBG) has had a significant positive impact on students, especially for indigenous Papuan children (OAP). This program is one of the government’s initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education by ensuring that every student gets sufficient nutritional intake. With good nutritional fulfillment, children are more physically and mentally prepared to receive lessons, so that the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process increases.
Previously, many students came to school hungry due to their family’s economic limitations. This condition hindered their concentration and comprehension of the lessons given. However, since the MBG program, significant changes have been seen. Students are more enthusiastic about participating in learning activities because they no longer have to endure hunger during school hours. In addition, student attendance has also increased because they have more motivation to come to school.
The MBG program not only has an impact on students, but also helps the local economy. By involving various parties in providing nutritious food, this program opens up employment opportunities and improves the welfare of the surrounding community. Therefore, the sustainability of this program is very important to continue to be supported for the sake of a better future for children’s education.
The Principal of SD YPK 14 Maranatha Manokwari, Jetje Taroreh, emphasized that since this program was implemented on January 6, 2025, children who previously often went home before school hours ended because they were hungry no longer experience this problem. Before MBG was implemented, many students had to ask permission to go home because they had a headache because they had not had breakfast at home. Now, their enthusiasm for learning has increased significantly.
Most of the students at the school come from underprivileged families, so they often go to school without breakfast. Before this program, teachers often provided simple food if students were too tired to study. However, with MBG, children’s nutritional needs can be met properly because the government has prepared a proper and nutritious food menu.
Each portion of food provided in this program includes rice, vegetables, fruit, and two types of side dishes such as chicken or fish, plus additional side dishes such as tempeh, tofu, or perkedel. This menu is designed so that students get sufficient nutritional intake to support their learning activities at school.
A similar thing was also felt at SD YPK 04, where Principal Agustina Pattiwael stated that the MBG program had a big impact on fulfilling students’ nutrition. Before this program was implemented, only a small number of students received pocket money to buy snacks at school, and even then they were not necessarily healthy. The majority of students who come from underprivileged families rarely receive pocket money, so they often do not eat until they get home.
With the MBG, the government has provided healthy and nutritious food that students can enjoy for free. A total of 192 students, the majority of whom are OAP children, now have a higher enthusiasm for learning because they no longer come to school with an empty stomach. This program is an effective solution in improving the quality of education in West Papua.
Dandim 1801/Manokwari, Lieutenant Colonel Inf Agus Prihanto Donny, explained that the MBG program in Manokwari was implemented through the healthy kitchen of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) at Kodim 1801/Manokwari. This kitchen is under the direct supervision of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and is supported by 47 volunteers consisting of the head and deputy of SPPG, nutritionists, accountants, chefs, laundry workers, and food delivery people.
Currently, the healthy kitchen has served the nutritious food needs of 3,000 children in 10 schools in Manokwari. With strict supervision from BGN, the quality of food provided in this program is guaranteed, so that children not only get free food, but also healthy and hygienic food.
In addition to having an impact on the health and enthusiasm of students to learn, the MBG program also provides benefits to the local economy. Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Gerindra Faction from Papua, Yan Mandenas emphasized that this program has been budgeted through the Papua Special Autonomy Fund (OTSUS) and is part of the government’s efforts to improve the welfare of the Papuan people. He invited the entire community to support this program so that the golden generation of Papua can grow up healthy and intelligent.
According to him, this program not only provides benefits for school children, but also opens up job opportunities for the surrounding community involved in the food provision process. Thus, the benefits of this program can be felt widely by various parties in Papua.
