Minister of Transmigration Ensures Transmigrant Descendants' Representation in TEP 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Transmigration M Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara has confirmed that descendants of transmigrants will be represented in the 2026 Patriot Expedition Team (TEP) program. He stated in Jakarta on Tuesday that 394 out of 10,539 applicants, approximately 4%, are descendants of transmigrants. Those applicants who are transmigrant descendants will be given priority for selection, provided they meet the standard criteria. “It is not merely because they are transmigrant descendants that they will automatically be accepted. There are standards to meet,” Iftitah said. He explained that the selection process will be conducted by partner universities, including the University of Indonesia (UI), Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Hasanuddin University (Unhas), Airlangga University (Unair), IPB University, Brawijaya University (Unibraw), Diponegoro University (Undip), Padjadjaran University (Unpad), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), and Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS). The selection process, which includes administrative checks, interviews, and health assessments, will continue until early June 2026. Only around 1,200 candidates will pass the final stage and officially become participants in this year’s Patriot Expedition. In the event of equal scores among candidates, those with transmigrant family backgrounds will be prioritised for acceptance. “If none of the transmigrant descendants meet the criteria, we will still allocate a representative quota. So, we ensure representation,” Iftitah said. “But if all 394 transmigrant descendants score above average, their quota cannot be reduced. In fact, this is a blessing, and they will be given super priority for acceptance,” he added. After passing the selection, participants will undergo training at their chosen partner universities on community service programmes, local environment familiarisation, and emergency response and survival skills, particularly to prepare for disaster scenarios. The participants will be deployed to 53 transmigration areas, each accompanied by their team leaders, bringing the total number of TEP 2026 participants to 1,400. “Training sessions will be held around late July before the TEP 2026 participants are dispatched. Around the end of July, possibly on 31 July, they will be sent to the 53 transmigration areas,” Iftitah added.