The government continues to reinforce its commitment to achieving quality education through the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG). The program is considered a strategic step in improving the quality of human resources from an early age.
Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Atip Latipulhayat, emphasized that providing free nutritious meals is an essential part of efforts to create better education in Indonesia.
“One of the objectives of the Free Nutritious Meals program is to produce quality education through the provision of nutritious food. It also aims to ensure that future generations can meet their daily nutritional needs in accordance with established dietary adequacy standards,” Atip stated.
He added that the implementation of the program must be accompanied by regular evaluations to ensure its benefits are sustained and deliver tangible impacts for the nation’s future generations.
Similarly, Deputy Minister of Population and Family Development/Deputy Head of BKKBN, Ratu Isyana Bagoes Oka, said that MBG is part of efforts to support President Prabowo Subianto’s vision of developing high-quality human resources.
“Improving the quality of human resources requires a long process. To realize the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045, we must start now. Otherwise, that aspiration will be difficult to achieve,” Isyana said.
The MBG program targets not only school students but also pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. This approach aims to ensure adequate nutrition from the earliest stages of life while preventing stunting.
Meanwhile, Deputy for Promotion and Cooperation at the National Nutrition Agency, Nyoto Suwignyo, emphasized that the quality of human resources is strongly influenced by nutritional conditions.
“High-quality human resources are the foundation of national progress, measured not only by intellectual ability and skills but also by optimal physical and mental health, all of which are influenced by diet and nutritional status,” he explained.
According to Nyoto, optimal nutrition from an early age will directly impact children’s learning ability, academic achievement, and future contributions.
He also stressed that Indonesia needs a superior generation capable of competing globally and driving innovation across various sectors.
“Excellent human quality will become the driving force of economic growth, strengthen national resilience, and position Indonesia as a key player on the global stage,” he concluded.
