This was stated by Nur Sangadji, Professor at Tadulako University (Untad), Palu, when met by the media in Palu, Central Sulawesi.
According to him, the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program can equalize students from rich and poor families.
“If we provide it to everyone, there will be a positive psychological impact. Because no one feels richer, and no one feels poorer,” he said.
This was emphatically stated by the Untad Professor when responding to criticism about why the Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG) was not provided exclusively to certain groups, such as poor schoolchildren, or those at certain educational levels, by adjusting for effectiveness and budget availability.
“This program demonstrates equality and equity, as they eat together with the same food and from the same omprengan,” he said.
He added that free meal programs for students have been implemented in various countries, including Brazil since the 1940s, France, India, Japan, and China. He even noted that the Chinese government’s free lunch program includes a nap program for students.
Meanwhile, Bambang Haryo Soekartono (BHS), a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), expressed a similar sentiment. He described the Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG) as a concrete effort to improve children’s nutritional quality and a strategic step to eliminate social disparities in the school environment.
Through the MBG program, all students can receive balanced nutrition, regardless of economic background, he explained.
Bambang Haryo added that today’s students are the nation’s future generation.
He believes that consuming nutritious food from an early age will help growth and development and increase productivity in the future.
“This generation is expected to be intelligent, energetic, productive, and able to compete with young people around the world. Indonesia has a great opportunity for that,” he said.
On a different occasion, Mohammad Ikra, Head of MBG Program at SMA 6 Palu, stated that the MBG Program is a positive program for student development.
“This program is very positive and can be said to be highly anticipated by the students,” said Mohammad Ikra.
He explained that economically, the students at his school are in the lower-middle class cluster. The total number of beneficiaries of the MBG program at SMA 6 Palu is 800.
“The high enthusiasm of the students is due to the very limited economic conditions of their families. Some children don’t even have pocket money for lunch, so the MBG program is very beneficial,” he concluded.