TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti affirmed that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program does not diminish the education budget within his ministry. He ensured that strategic education programs will continue to operate and will even expand in 2026.
"If there is an assumption that the MBG reduces the education budget, we firmly state that it is not true. The president's programs related to education will continue to be implemented to the best of our ability," said Mu'ti at the Coordination Meeting for the Implementation of the MBG Program in East Java on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
The meeting was chaired by the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, and attended by the Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Bima Arya, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency Dadan Hidayana, and the Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa, among others.
Mu'ti mentioned that in 2025, the government allocated Rp16.9 trillion for the revitalization of 16,167 educational units across Indonesia. He stated that the development realization has reached 93 percent. "This is evidence that the state's commitment to the improvement of educational infrastructure remains strong," he said.
For 2026, the revitalization budget listed in the state budget (APBN) is said to exceed Rp14 trillion and will be allocated to 11,474 educational units.
He added that President Prabowo Subianto plans to provide additional revitalization funds for 60,000 educational units. "So, in total, when it is included in the APBN, this year we propose that there will be revitalization for 71,000 and something educational units," said Mu'ti.
In addition to infrastructure, Mu'ti ensured that digital learning, educational assistance for students, and teacher training will continue. He also confirmed that the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) budget for elementary, junior high, senior high, and special needs students will not be reduced.
Furthermore, in 2026, the government will increase PIP for kindergarten students by Rp450,000 per year for888,000 students across Indonesia. "This year, we will allocate it for 888,000 kindergarten students," he said.
According to Mu'ti, the MBG is a strategic part of efforts to improve human resource quality from a young age. As of February 18, 2026, the program has reached 280,023 educational units with 43.17 million beneficiary students.
He mentioned that the MBG is part of the Seven Habits of Great Indonesia Program, which includes habits of healthy living, worship, love of learning, and community involvement. "Nutritious meals are not just about nutrition, but are part of character formation," he said.
To support the implementation of the MBG, the Ministry has also built and rehabilitated 14,591 toilets in 11,490 educational units and 6,686 Health Counseling Rooms (UKS) throughout 2025. According to Mu'ti, these facilities form the basis for cultivating clean and healthy living habits in school environments.
Budgetary Discrepancies and Public Debate
Mu'ti's statement comes amid public debate about national budget priorities, especially after the MBG became one of President Prabowo's flagship programs. The government emphasizes that the program does not erode the education allocation, but runs in parallel with the strengthening of infrastructure and educational assistance.
However, looking at the annex document of Presidential Regulation Number 118 of 2025 regarding the Detailed State Revenue and Expenditure Budget for 2026, the MBG budget is included in the education budget. Out of the total education budget of Rp769 trillion, Rp223 trillion is allocated to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to execute the MBG program.
In the 2026 state budget, the government also cut certain expenditures, especially the transfer funds to regions (TKD). These funds are usually used for school operational assistance and specific physical education allocation funds.
Education budget reductions have occurred in the 2025 state budget. For example, the initial budget allocation for the Ministry of Higher Education was Rp57.68 trillion, which was reduced to Rp43 trillion. The initial budget allocation for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, which was initially Rp33.55 trillion, became Rp26.27 trillion.
Read: Purbaya Responds to 2026 State Budget Lawsuit at Constitutional Court
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