Students' Perception of The Free Nutritional Meal Program and Its Impact on Attendance Motivation

Free nutritious meal program, learning motivation, student nutrition, education, government policy The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is a strategic government initiative designed to improve the quality of education by meeting the nutritional needs of students fairly and equitably, especially for children from low-income groups. This study aims to analyze the impact of the MBG program implementation on student academic motivation at SMP Negeri 8 Pematangsiantar. The method used is a mixed method approach that combines a comprehensive literature review with empirical data collection through attendance monitoring and semi-structured interviews involving students in grades 9-8 (n=28) during the period July-December 2024. The findings indicate that the MBG initiative substantially increased student learning motivation, as reflected in consistently high attendance rates (average 99.97%), increased learning concentration, enthusiasm for learning, and better social interactions within the school environment. However, the implementation of this program faces various obstacles including unequal distribution, budget constraints, minimal cross-sector coordination, and variations in student satisfaction regarding the quality and taste of the menu provided. Therefore, a strong oversight mechanism, comprehensive technical regulations, and integrated policy synergy are needed to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the program