Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meal
Program (MBG) acts as a strategic driver for building student character and
civic values based on Pancasila principles to support the nation's Golden
Indonesia 2045 vision. The systematic literature study was conducted by Ilyas,
a researcher from the Faculty of Economics and Business at Halu Oleo
University, and published in July 2026. The findings demonstrate that
government-funded school meals improve physical health and attendance while
instilling discipline, social equality, and civic responsibility among young
learners.
Background and Strategic
Relevance
Indonesia faces persistent
challenges regarding youth nutrition and school retention. According to
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data, school dropout rates reach 0.67 percent at the
elementary level, 6.93 percent in junior high school, and 21.61 percent in senior
high school, largely driven by economic constraints. In response, the
Indonesian government under President Prabowo Subianto officially launched the
MBG program on February 6, 2025, as part of the "Asta Cita" national
framework. The initiative directly aligns with the fifth principle of
Pancasila—social justice for all Indonesian people—by offering equal access to
basic nutrition across diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
Research Methodology
The researcher employed a
Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach using bibliometric techniques to
evaluate academic publications from 2020 through 2025. Source material was
gathered from Google Scholar based on strict inclusion criteria: peer-reviewed
journal articles and books focused on human resource development, Pancasila
character formation, the MBG program, and the Golden Indonesia 2045 goal. After
screening 35 initial publications, 9 core research articles met all
requirements and were included in the final qualitative synthesis.
Key Findings on Character
Development
The analysis reveals that the MBG
program delivers benefits beyond physical growth and academic focus:
- Nationalism and Civic Awareness: Providing
routine meal services creates a tangible sign of state support, fostering
student patriotism and long-term public commitment.
- Discipline and Daily Habits: Mandatory
queuing, clearing eating utensils, and managing waste instill small, daily
habits of order and environmental responsibility.
- Social Equality and Anti-Corruption Mindset:
Eating identical meals together eliminates social disparities and
reinforces respect for equal rights, discouraging future corrupt
behaviors.
- Religious Values and Tolerance: Communal
meal routines incorporate shared prayers according to individual faiths,
promoting mutual respect and religious tolerance.
- Increased Attendance: Early trial periods
indicate marked improvements in daily student attendance and classroom
engagement.
Economic Impact and Real-World
Implications
Beyond school grounds, the MBG
initiative generates local economic benefits by engaging micro, small, and
medium enterprises (MSMEs) alongside local farmers. Supplying regional
ingredients like eggs, tempeh, and fresh produce creates grassroots economic circulation.
The operational model draws comparison to Japan's long-standing Kyushoku
school meal system, which operates under national nutrition laws to ensure
structured, sustainable food provision across educational institutions.
"Producing students with
healthy bodies and souls, as well as noble characters and personalities, is the
greatest capital to achieve Indonesia Emas 2045. This is the greatest
multiplier effect of MBG: forming the character of Pancasila humans." —
Ilyas, Halu Oleo University
Author Profile
Ilyas holds an academic degree in
economics and serves as a faculty member at the Faculty of Economics and
Business, Halu Oleo University, Kendari, Indonesia. His research expertise
covers human resource development, economic policy, and public education
management.
Source Information
- Article Title: Systematic Literature Review
(SLR): Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) in Pancasila-Based Human
Character Development Towards Golden Indonesia 2045
- Journal Name: International Journal of
Global Sustainable Research (IJGSR)
- Publication Year: 2026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijgsr.v4i7.289
- Official URL: https://slamultitechpublisher.my.id/index.php/ijgsr/index
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