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View all search resultsIncentives vs. liability: Teachers question free meals role
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A teacher prepares to distribute lunch boxes from the free nutritious meal program to elementary school pupils in Ternate, North Maluku, on Sept. 30. President Prabowo Subianto has said the program has reached nearly 30 million beneficiaries, delivering more than 1 billion nutritious meals to children across Indonesia, while also significantly boosting the economy by creating an estimated 1.5 million new jobs by January–February 2026. ( Antara/Andri Saputra)
T
eachers have voiced concern over the government’s plan to have them oversee the free nutritious meal program, warning that, despite offered incentives, the added responsibility could distract from teaching and expose them to liability if food safety problems occur.
Through a circular issued on Sept. 29, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), which manages the program, now requires each participating school to appoint one to three teachers as persons-in-charge (PICs) for the flagship program of President Prabowo Subianto.
While principals make the appointments, the BGN has instructed that priority be given to non-permanent teachers, many of whom are notoriously underpaid.
Each PIC will receive an incentive of Rp 100,000 (US$6) per day, which will be funded by the operational budget of the free-meal kitchen, also known as nutrition fulfillment service unit (SPPG), the school is partnered with.
BGN head Dadan Hindayana told The Jakarta Post that the teachers’ main responsibility would be to oversee the distribution of meals rather than ensuring their safety.
“We use rapid testing tools, so teachers are not required to taste the food. Even if they wish to test it themselves, simply observing or smelling the meals should be sufficient,” he said on Wednesday.
Read also: Government suspends operations of ‘problematic’ free meals kitchens
