“Gethok Tular” as the Leadership Strategy of School Principals to Strengthen Multi-Stakeholder Forum Role in Improving the Quality of One-Roof Schools in Remote Areas in Indonesia

Abstract

This study aimed at finding an effective leadership strategy carried out by one-roof school principals in remote areas. This study was conducted qualitatively with a multi-site approach. The data were obtained from the school principals as key informants and focus group discussion (FGD) involving all school principals, Indonesian Institute of Education Innovation Training and Consultant (LPKIPI), education staff, school supervisors, and stakeholders as the participants and resource persons. Findings suggested that (a) the problems encountered by one-roof school principals in the remote areas were significantly related to culture, economy, demography, geography, and historical aspects, (b) the characteristics of success of school principals in remote areas include a clear vision, high-spirit performance, andhab asor (low profile), active involvement in various social activities, strong motivation for continuous learning, open to feedback, having commitment to cooperate with various parties, having a high awareness that school is an educational system and the essential part from the social system in general, persistent, high confidence that they are not alone in carrying out school policies, creative, able to see the context in various perspectives, patient, polite, warm, and smart or attractive, (c) “Gethok Tular1” is the most effective leadership strategy to strengthen the role of multi-stakeholder forum (MSF), and (d) the involvement of MSF members needs to be done selectively and effectively through the identification of TKU, intensive communication with TKU, identification of other figures, discussions, and sharing roles and strengthening MSF on an ongoing basis.