The proposal comes after West Java recorded the highest number of food poisoning cases linked to the program compared to other provinces in Indonesia.
According to Aceng, direct management by schools would make the program safer, more hygienic, and better targeted.
He argued that schools and other educational institutions are more familiar with the needs and preferences of their students, allowing them to provide meals that better match nutritional requirements and local tastes.
“Schools should manage the MBG program directly by establishing their own kitchens or canteens. This way, schools can empower their communities while ensuring food safety for their students,” Aceng said in Bandung on Wednesday.
He added that smaller-scale operations, serving around 500 to 1,000 portions per kitchen, would make supervision easier and strengthen community involvement.
Oversight from local health and education offices would still be necessary to maintain quality standards.
Aceng noted that this model could be more effective than large-scale centralized kitchens serving thousands of students.
With smaller kitchens spread across schools, pesantren, and posyandu, food distribution could be faster and the risk of contamination significantly reduced.
Data from the Ministry of Health as of October 5, 2025, shows that more than 11,000 people nationwide have suffered food poisoning linked to the MBG program.
Meanwhile, data from the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) recorded 11,566 child victims between January and October 12, 2025.
Of that number, West Java reported the highest figure with 4,125 victims, followed by Central Java with 1,666, the Special Region of Yogyakarta with 1,053, East Java with 950, and East Nusa Tenggara with 800.
Given these findings, Aceng emphasized the need for stronger food distribution and supervision systems.
He expressed hope that independent management by schools and educational institutions could become a practical solution to enhance the effectiveness and safety of the MBG program in the future.
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Translator: Ricky Prayoga, Primayanti
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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