Jakarta (ANTARA) – Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti stated that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program is an integral part of strengthening students’ character education through the 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children (KAIH) initiative.“The MBG program helps students increase their learning motivation, provides enjoyable experiences both in terms of the food and communal dining, and offers opportunities for students from low socio-economic groups to access nutritious meals,” Mu’ti said in a written statement issued here on Wednesday.Nationally, he said the program has reached 49.6 million students (93 percent) out of a total of 53.4 million nationwide, spanning 288,845 schools (66.5 percent).The government, he added, has distributed educational modules and MBG implementation guidelines integrated with character education reinforcement to schools across the country.Mu’ti projected that the 2026 education budget will increase to above Rp100 trillion to support the revitalization of around 70 thousand schools and accelerate learning digitalization through Digital Interactive Boards (PID) or Interactive Flat Panels (IFP).“If there are obstacles in MBG implementation, we will continue refining it to ensure 100 percent of Indonesian children receive proper nutrition and quality character education,” he affirmed.In line with the program’s expansive reach, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan emphasized the link between nutrition and intelligence.“Superior human resources are determined by adequate intake. No matter how good the school, malnourished or stunted children will have lower IQ. We must ensure food and protein self-sufficiency. If 82.9 million beneficiaries consume one egg daily, the people’s economy will surge,” he said.Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi also expressed support for the free meal program as it enhances children’s quality of life.“This program is not merely a nutritional intervention but a child protection step that positions children as active subjects of development,” Fauzi said.