Indonesia is embarking on a sweeping overhaul of its education and nutrition landscape as President Prabowo Subianto’s administration rolls out two of its most ambitious social programs to date: the expansion of the Sekolah Rakyat free schools initiative and the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. Both efforts, designed to break the cycle of poverty and improve the health and prospects of the nation’s children, are being watched closely for their scale, intent, and—perhaps most critically—their ability to overcome mounting operational challenges.
For the 2025 fiscal year, the Sekolah Rakyat program has been allocated a budget of Rp7 trillion (approximately US$430.7 million), according to ANTARA. This funding is distributed across several ministries, including Social Affairs and Public Works, to support the program’s rapid growth. The number of Sekolah Rakyat schools is set to surge, with 100 new schools opening on August 15–16 and another 59 scheduled for September. By the end of 2025, a total of 159 schools will be in operation, serving more than 15,000 students from poor and vulnerable families. The program’s mission is clear: to provide free, high-quality education and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Looking ahead, the commitment grows even stronger. President Prabowo is expected to announce the 2026 Draft State Budget on August 15, 2025, which will include a “significantly increased” allocation for Sekolah Rakyat. As Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati explained, “Next year, the number will increase significantly because operational costs will be allocated for one year for 200 schools, so we are providing a substantial budget.” The funds will cover not only operational and teaching expenses but also construction costs in areas lacking adequate facilities, ensuring that the program reaches the nation’s most underserved communities.
Parallel to the education push, the MBG program is racing to meet an even more ambitious target: providing free, nutritious meals to 20 million children by the end of August 2025, up from the current 8.4 million. President Prabowo announced this goal during his speech at the Indonesian Solidarity Party Congress in Solo on July 20, 2025, expressing hope that “we might even exceed 25 million in August.” The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is spearheading the effort, with Deputy of System and Governance Tigor Pangaribuan saying the agency is working to build more kitchens—referred to as Food Supply Service Units (SPPG)—to hit the target. As of early August, about 4,100 kitchens were operational, with plans to nearly double this to 7,000 by month’s end and reach 30,000 by year’s close.
To support this rapid expansion, development funds totaling Rp71 trillion have been allocated from the state treasury. Infrastructure, funding, and human resources are all seen as critical to the program’s success. However, the MBG initiative has been beset by a series of alarming setbacks that threaten to undermine its lofty aims.
Since its launch on January 6, 2025, the MBG program has been plagued by recurring food poisoning incidents. Thousands of students in regions such as East Nusa Tenggara, East Sumba, Bombana, Cianjur, Bogor, and Sukoharjo have suffered symptoms after consuming MBG-provided meals. The most recent case saw 140 students at SMPN 8 Kupang fall ill on July 22, 2025, after eating a meal of rendang, long bean carrot vegetable, tofu, and bananas. According to TEMPO.CO, BGN’s evaluation cited inexperienced kitchen managers, poor hygiene, and weak distribution supervision as root causes. Nutrition expert Tan Shot Yen was blunt in his assessment: these incidents “could have been avoided if food safety principles, such as HACCP, were strictly implemented from ingredient selection to serving.” He also criticized the lack of adequate technical training before the program began.
The MBG program has also sparked controversy over its procurement policies. The government’s decision to ease imports of food trays (ompreng) used in the program has drawn sharp protests from the Indonesian Food Tray Producers Association (Apmaki). Alie Cendrawan, Apmaki’s Secretary General, warned, “This endangers us. We have invested billions in our factories.” Local manufacturers fear that the influx of imported trays from China, made with stainless steel SUS 201 (which is prone to rust), not only threatens their businesses but also raises safety concerns for the children using them. There are worries about contamination and the use of substandard materials instead of the food-safe SUS 304.
Operational headaches don’t end there. Payment disputes have erupted between kitchen partners and BGN-affiliated foundations. One high-profile case in Kalibata, South Jakarta, saw a kitchen operated by Ira Mesra cease operations after a partner foundation failed to pay nearly Rp1 billion in dues. Dewi Anggraeni, a researcher at Indonesia Corruption Watch, noted, “This partnership model creates risks of distribution chaos and budget mismanagement.” She called for clear central coordination from BGN to prevent overlapping authority and payment issues.
Another point of contention is the reduction in the value of meal packages. Initially, each MBG meal was valued at Rp15,000 and included milk. However, the package price was later cut to Rp10,000, leading to smaller portions and the removal of milk in some schools. Fiscal Justice Director at Celios, Media Wahyu Askar, argued that this shift underscores inadequate preparation for the program’s rollout. He urged a thorough evaluation, including governance audits and greater involvement of civil society in oversight.
Despite these challenges, the government remains steadfast in its commitment. The Sekolah Rakyat and MBG programs are both seen as essential tools for tackling poverty and improving children’s prospects. Yet, as the scale of these initiatives grows, so too does the need for robust management, transparency, and community engagement. Calls for comprehensive audits and tighter supervision have grown louder, reflecting a widespread desire for these programs to deliver on their promises without compromising safety or quality.
As President Prabowo prepares to unveil the 2026 budget and the next phase of these programs, all eyes are on how his administration will address the persistent issues of food safety, procurement, and operational oversight. The stakes are high—not just for the millions of children these programs aim to serve, but for Indonesia’s broader vision of social justice and equitable development.
With major investments and policy attention focused on the nation’s future, the coming months will be a crucial test of Indonesia’s resolve to turn bold promises into lasting progress.