Indonesia
The court held that the program does not qualify as an educational expense, and that using education budget funds violates the Constitution, which mandates that at least 20 percent of the national budget be allocated to education.
A police officer patrols the grounds of the Constitutional Court in Central Jakarta on Feb. 4, 2025. (Antara/Bayu Pratama S.)
The Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that the government should no longer source funding for President Prabowo Subianto’s costly free nutritious meal program from the education budget.During a hearing on Thursday, the nine-justice panel granted a petition submitted by education nonprofit Yayasan Taman Belajar Nusantara, a university lecturer and a contract teacher.
The court held that the program does not qualify as an educational expense, and that using education budget funds violates the Constitution, which mandates that at least 20 percent of the national budget be allocated to education.
