INFO  PERS

The INDONESIAN , (Jakarta)– The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program is one of the flagship strategic initiatives of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, deserving support from all segments of society. Yet, like any large-scale national program, its success depends not only on good intentions but also on continuous evaluation and improvement to ensure students truly receive meals that are nutritious, safe, fresh, and delivered on time.

From the program’s launch, PROUI has proposed that school canteens be considered as one official delivery model. This approach is seen as more effective than the centralized kitchen scheme operated by the Nutrition Service Unit (SPPG), which requires food to be prepared off‑site, packaged, and transported over long distances to schools.

This proposal is not without precedent. Countries with successful school meal programs have long demonstrated the benefits of food preparation integrated directly within educational facilities.

Japan’s kyūshoku system, for instance, runs school kitchens managed by nutritionists and trained staff under strict quality standards, maintaining freshness while drastically reducing food waste. South Korea applies a similar model, cooking meals daily on school grounds so ingredient quality, hygiene, and food safety can be monitored directly to minimize contamination risks. Brazil has operated school feeding since the 1940s, expanding nationwide in 2009 with thousands of suppliers and rigorous quality oversight. Finland has offered free nutritious school meals as part of its national education system since the early 20th century.

Collectively, these experiences confirm one clear conclusion: the success of school nutrition programs hinges on proximity between production and beneficiaries, rigorous hygiene standards, and robust multi‑layered oversight.

For Indonesia, implementing MBG through school canteens offers distinct advantages that merit serious consideration:

First, oversight. When meals are prepared on‑site, school principals, teachers, school committees, and parents can directly monitor ingredient quality, cooking practices, and service delivery. This participatory supervision is far more feasible than overseeing centralized kitchens located far from schools.

Second, food safety. The centralized model requires food to be packaged and transported over varying distances. Every step in the supply chain increases the risk of spoilage or contamination. Recent reports of suspected food poisoning linked to MBG underscore why food safety must be the top priority. With school‑based preparation, meals are served immediately after cooking, significantly reducing such risks.

PROUI welcomes the growing openness to integrating school canteens into the MBG framework. Agustina Arumsari, Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), confirmed that the option has been discussed with President Prabowo Subianto, who has directed a comprehensive feasibility study on its future adoption.

This development validates that PROUI’s early advocacy was not merely theoretical, but addresses a genuine need now gaining traction among government, legislators, stakeholders, and the public.

PROUI therefore urges a thorough, expeditious, data‑driven assessment of school canteen integration, including impacts on school empowerment, school cooperatives, local MSMEs, and community employment.

The school‑canteen model need not entirely replace the existing SPPG system. Centralized kitchens remain viable in urban areas with large student populations and strong infrastructure. However, for schools with smaller enrolments, remote locations, island communities, or areas historically hampered by logistics and safety issues, on‑site preparation offers greater efficiency, freshness, safety, and transparency.

Drawing on the proven experiences of Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and Finland, PROUI is convinced that the long‑term success of the Free Nutritious Meals program will depend on systems that are close to students, transparent, and easily monitored. In this light, school canteens are more than a technical alternative—they represent a realistic, evidence‑based solution that has worked globally and deserves to become a cornerstone of Indonesia’s MBG program.
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