<![CDATA[This study aims to analyze the policy and implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) in urban and rural schools in Indonesia, as well as examine stakeholder perceptions and their impact on student participation in the learning process. As a strategic public policy intervention, the MBG program addresses critical micronutrient deficiencies and unequal access to nutritious food, which significantly correlate with cognitive ability, learning concentration, and academic achievement. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative approach, this research collected primary and secondary data through in-depth semi-structured interviews, field observations, and comprehensive documentation studies. The comparative research setting encompasses schools in rural and urban areas to facilitate a holistic analysis of policy implementation dynamics. The findings reveal that although the MBG policy is designed nationally to uniformly improve nutritional status and learning quality, its localized implementation is highly contextual. Rural schools, constrained by infrastructure and long distribution distances, require flexible adaptations and strong community reliance. Conversely, urban schools operate with more structured distribution systems and adequate infrastructure, yet face distinct challenges such as parental concerns regarding food safety. Overall, the MBG program garnered positive perceptions from students, parents, and teachers, demonstrably contributing to elevated learning motivation and increased student participation. This study recommends an adaptive, context-sensitive, and sustainable MBG policy framework to maximize program effectiveness and ensure equitable benefit distribution across diverse regional landscapes.]]>
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