Jakarta, Nov. 1 -- Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti stated that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program not only helps meet students' nutritional needs but also boosts school attendance.

During the signing of a cooperation agreement between the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education recently, Mu'ti highlighted the dual impact of the initiative.

"Numerous studies demonstrate a clear link between free nutritious meals and higher student attendance rates. Many children go to school because a healthy, nutritious meal awaits them," he said in an official statement in Jakarta on Sunday.

According to Mu'ti, the benefits of the free meal program in schools extend beyond physica...