Headline: School Meals: The Debate Over Missing Milk on the First Day
Subhead: Despite initial omissions, priorities are shifting to ensure sustainable distribution.
JAKARTA – The newly launched school meals program, a flagship initiative of President Prabowo Subianto‘s administration, commenced on January 6, 2025. This program has been highly anticipated, with the primary concept being to provide balanced and nutritious meals to students nationwide.
On the program’s first day, 190 Satellite Units for Nutritional Services (SPPG) were operational across 26 provinces. Each SPPG is headed by an official from the National Nutrition Board. Despite the widespread enthusiasm and positive reception, one notable absence has sparked discussion: the lack of milk in some schools’ meals.
Residents of SD Negeri Kedung Badak 1 in Bogor, West Java, were surprised to find that their children’s free school meals did not include milk. The menu consisted of rice, omelette, carrots and cabbage, and bananas. The absence of milk was also noticed in Depok, where Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhaimin Iskandar, acknowledged the issue and stated that provisions would be made available gradually.
The Istana confirmed that milk is not included in every meal, with executive officer Hasan Nasbi noting that milk may be served one to two times a week. The decision to incorporate milk into the meals depends on its availability. However, with a budget of Rp10,000 per meal, officials affirm that this allocation includes milk when available.
To ensure sustainability and support local industries, the National Nutrition Board has prioritized milk distribution in regions with dairy farming. The board, headed by Dadan Hindayana, aims to reduce milk imports by promoting local production. In areas without dairy farms, other protein sources like fish and eggs can be substituted, along with alternative calcium sources.
In Jakarta, the governor’s office has stated that milk will be provided twice a week, with other meal variations to follow. To maintain diversity and quality,kusus menus will cater to regional preferences and food availability. Despite initial hurdles, the school meals program remains committed to ensuring adequate nutrition and culinary variety for Indonesian students.
This is a developing story. Follow DetikNews for more updates.
