The evaluation will be conducted in a structured and systematic way, focusing on groups of beneficiaries during the trial period before the program was officially launched on January 6.
"There will be an evaluation from several trials we have conducted since 10 to 11 months ago,” she noted in South Tangerang, Banten, on Monday.
Irawati remarked that the government has received positive responses and testimonials from teachers in schools where the program has been implemented.
Irawati highlighted some improvements from students receiving free nutritious meals, including better concentration during lessons, increased willingness to engage in learning activities, and higher attendance rates in class.
"Hence, there are three benefits (in the form of) participation, attendance, and concentration. However, we will continue to evaluate the impact of this program,” she noted.
She revealed that an official evaluation will be conducted within the next one to two months to ensure optimal data collection.
The free nutritious meals program has been launched in 26 provinces across Indonesia, operating at least 190 special kitchens, officially called the nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG).
Managed by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), each SPPG is tasked with preparing and distributing free meals to schoolchildren, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
A budget of Rp71 trillion (around US$4.35 billion) has been allocated for the program.
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Translator: Livia Kristianti, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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