Jakarta – National Development Planning Minister Suharso Monoarfa, who also heads the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), has confirmed that the budget for the free school meal program will range from Rp 15,000 to Rp 20,000 per meal, emphasizing the importance of child nutrition. This announcement was made during a dialogue with Executive Chairman B-Universe, Enggartiasto Lukita, at the B-Universe office in PIK 2, Tangerang, on Monday, July 29, 2024.
Suharso’s statement puts to rest recent rumors suggesting that the budget for nutritious meals would be drastically reduced to Rp 7,500 per meal. “I heard concerns about the budget being cut to Rp 7,500. I think that’s not true. The price will definitely be around Rp 15,000 to Rp 20,000,” Suharso emphasized.
He further elaborated that the budget has been meticulously calculated to meet the nutritional needs of children, based on ideal requirements. “We aim to improve child nutrition. We calculate the calories to be provided to each child daily, ensuring it meets a certain percentage of their daily needs over five days. So, the rumor of Rp 7,500 is not true,” he explained.
This free school meal program is a flagship initiative of President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Discussions regarding the budget and other new government programs have already taken place between Bappenas and the Prabowo-Gibran synchronization team. Suharso mentioned, “We are also trying to incorporate all the quick wins from Prabowo’s team, following the President’s instructions, to be accommodated in the 2025 State Budget. We have also discussed the five-year National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) that will be directed by President-elect Prabowo.”
The government plans to allocate Rp 71 trillion in the 2025 Draft State Budget (RAPBN) for the free meal program for students. The initiative aims to gradually provide meals to approximately 82.9 million students by 2029, with a projected total budget of Rp 400 trillion. This substantial investment underscores the government’s commitment to improving child nutrition and supporting educational outcomes through adequate meal provision.
The confirmation of the budget range for the free school meal program at Rp 15,000 to Rp 20,000 per meal is a significant step towards ensuring the health and well-being of students across Indonesia. By maintaining this budget, the government aims to provide consistent and nutritious meals to children, supporting their growth and educational success.
