Implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Program in Schools An Educational Management Perspective Ade Wahyuni Azhar¹⁾, Fitry Wahyuni²⁾, Hajatina³⁾, Ali Umar⁴⁾, Melvi Fitri⁵⁾, Ifkar⁶⁾. Affiliasi: Akademi Perniagaan dan Perusahaan APIPSU Medan adewahyuniazhar@gmail.com Abstract The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is a strategic government policy aimed at improving the quality of students’ health and education through balanced nutritional intake. This study discusses the implementation of MBG in schools from the perspective of educational management, highlighting the four key management functions: planning, organizing, implementation, and supervision. The findings indicate that schools play a central role as both beneficiaries and implementers, ensuring that nutritious food is distributed effectively and according to standards. However, in practice, the program faces several challenges, including limited infrastructure, insufficient human resource readiness, disruption to learning time, and weak coordination between kitchen managers and schools. Nevertheless, MBG remains strategically significant in supporting educational sustainability and fostering healthy character formation among students. Strengthening cross-sectoral governance, enhancing school managerial capacity, and developing a transparent and integrated monitoring system are crucial for ensuring the program’s effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. Keywords: Free Nutritious Meal, educational management, school, child nutrition, education policy