"This program must be a culture, an ecosystem, and a local education movement to realize quality education for all," he asserted here on Thursday.
The implementation of MBG, he said, can be seen as an effort to transform education in Indonesia.
He underscored that the initiative must be advocated for, assisted, and internalized by Technical Implementation Units (UPTs) of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in every province.
According to him, the provision of nutritious meals is part of the character-building curriculum, noting that when children eat the meals together with their friends, they learn about discipline and responsibility.
"In addition, they also learn the values of mutual cooperation and socializing, such as sharing tables, looking out for one another, and understanding the importance of food," Latipulhayat remarked.
Furthermore, he stated that the MBG program involves UPTs as centers of excellence for partnerships and synergy. The UPTs across provinces are strategic hubs connecting central policy with regional realities.
He noted that the success of the MBG relies heavily on UPTs' ability to build perfect horizontal and vertical synergy.
The Deputy Minister noted that vertically, the UPTs must act as policy consultants for regional governments, while horizontally, the MBG program has very broad dimensions, ranging from health and agriculture to the local economy.
On that occasion, he also encouraged all UPTs to ensure that the Field Assistance Teams not only focus on menus and logistics in MBG, but also on integrating nutrition education and clean and healthy lifestyle into the curriculum through a deep learning approach.
The free meals program was launched on January 6, 2025, as one of the priority programs of President Prabowo Subianto, aimed at improving the nutritional status of children under five, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and schoolchildren up to the high school level.
With a target of reaching 82.9 million beneficiaries across Indonesia, the program is one of the largest programs implemented in the country.
Related news: Indonesia denies hoax claiming free meals to be replaced with cash aid
Related news: Prabowo counters free meal critics, cites 49 million served daily
Translator: Hana Dewi, Raka Adji
Editor: Arie Novarina
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
