Politics · Indonesia · 2 hrs ago
Indonesian lawmakers call for review of school meal curriculum proposal
Two members of Indonesia’s House education commission have called for a review of a proposal to include the Free Nutritious Meals program in school curricula.
The proposal was attributed to the head of Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency, but commission deputy chair Lalu Hadrian Irfani said its details should first be confirmed.
Lalu said the idea needs careful study of its purpose, urgency and effects on learning.
He said nutrition supports education, but lessons on healthy eating could be added to existing classes rather than creating a separate subject.
Commission member Bonnie Triyana said research should identify why people lack nutritious food, including whether the issue is limited knowledge or household finances.
She also questioned whether one program meal can meet children’s daily nutritional needs and warned against adding to students’ workload.
Any curriculum change would need coordination with the education ministry, and the lawmakers said its effects should be assessed before a decision is made.
Indonesian lawmakers called for a serious review of a proposal to include the Free Nutritious Meals program in school curricula.
Lalu Hadrian Irfani said the proposal’s urgency, goals and effects on learning should be assessed before it is considered.
He said nutrition education could be included in existing lessons rather than added as a separate subject.
Bonnie Triyana called for empirical research into why people lack nutritious food and whether the program meets children’s daily nutritional needs.
Both lawmakers warned that adding curriculum requirements could increase students’ workload.
- Who
- Lalu Hadrian Irfani and Bonnie Triyana, members of Indonesia’s House of Representatives Commission X.
- What
- They called for a review of a proposal to include the Free Nutritious Meals program in school curricula.
- When
- October 30, 2026.
- Where
- Indonesia. The lawmakers spoke to reporters, according to Detik.
- Why
- They said the proposal needs evidence-based assessment and should not add to students’ workload.
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- Proposal
- Include the Free Nutritious Meals program in school curricula
- Lalu Hadrian Irfani
- Deputy chair of House Commission X
- Bonnie Triyana
- House Commission X member from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction
- Date
- October 30, 2026
- Detik
- Outlet reporting the lawmakers’ comments
What people are saying
If true, the proposal needs to be studied seriously, in terms of its urgency, goals and implications for the learning process.
This idea should be supported by empirical research into why many people eat food that is not nutritious.
Let’s first be clear about this; don’t let efforts to strengthen a program end up burdening students.