The free nutritious meal program introduced by president-elect Prabowo Subianto is facing significant hurdles in its implementation, from institutional readiness to the selection of appropriate target regions.
Amich Alhumami, Deputy for Human Development, Society, and Culture at the National Development Planning Ministry (Bappenas), acknowledged the program’s complexity.
He noted that it needs to target the appropriate educational levels, such as Early Childhood Education (PAUD), Primary Schools (SD), and Junior High Schools (SMP).
“The program must be well-executed to have a meaningful impact on improving nutrition and learning outcomes for children in their growth stages,” Amich said on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
He added that the key factor is the selection of regions where the program will be implemented.
“High-poverty areas should be prioritized, as residents in these regions often struggle to access nutritious food. This focus aims to ensure that those most in need benefit from the program,” he said.
Impact to education
Najelaa Shihab, founder of Sekolah Cikal and Chair of the Supervisory Board at the Center for Education and Policy Studies (PSPK), emphasized that there should be indicators to measure the program’s success, especially in the education sector. She hopes the program will improve school attendance rates and students’ concentration.
“In other countries, we see improved school attendance and engagement when similar programs are implemented, and children tend to ask more questions,” she said.
Additionally, Shihab hopes that the program will positively affect students’ interactions during school breaks, potentially reducing bullying.
“Ultimately, good governance and monitoring are essential to ensure the program’s large budget leads to significant impact,” she added.
Methods used
I Dewa Made Agung Kertha Nugraha, Executive Director of the Indonesia Food Security Review (IFSR), highlighted how similar programs are implemented by various ministries in different countries, such as the Department of Agriculture in the United States and joint efforts by the Ministries of Education and Social Welfare in India. Despite these differences, the goal remains the same: providing nutritious meals to children.
Nugraha stressed that Indonesia’s program must aim for both short- and long-term effects, benefiting students academically and beyond.
“This is a complex, long-term program that must be consistently implemented to see meaningful results,” he concluded.
