The Effect of Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) Quality on the Learning Readiness of Elementary and Junior High School Students in Bandung City

Audrey Elizabeth Hermanto (SMA Santa Ursula, Jakarta, Indonesia)
Chandra Kuswoyo (Universitas Kristen Maranatha, Bandung, Indonesia)

ARMADA : Jurnal Penelitian Multidisiplin
Vol. 4 No. 9 (2026): ARMADA : Jurnal Penelitian Multidisplin, September 2026

The Free Nutritious Meal Program (Makan Bergizi Gratis, MBG) is a large-scale national priority program, making the quality of its implementation an important aspect to evaluate. This study analyzes the effect of four MBG quality dimensions: food quality, nutritional adequacy, menu variety, and meal distribution quality on the learning readiness of elementary (SD) and junior high (SMP) school students in Bandung City. A convergent parallel mixed method design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 203 students (89 elementary and 114 junior high) using a four-point Likert questionnaire and analyzed with multiple linear regression, conducted separately per school and then pooled; qualitative data were obtained from interviews with 11 students and 8 teachers. Results show that the four dimensions simultaneously affect learning readiness (R² = 0.508; F = 51.02; p < 0.001). Partially, food quality (β = 0.399) and nutritional adequacy (β = 0.285) are significant and consistent across both levels. Menu variety is significant only at the junior high level, whereas meal distribution quality is significant only at the elementary level, so both become non-significant in the pooled model. These findings reveal level-specific effect patterns and offer implications for improving MBG service quality differently for elementary and junior high schools.