Inter-regions Collaboration Strategies on the Cross-Regions Border Services of State Elementary and High Schools in Urban Area in the Border Area of the City of Semarang, Indonesia
Hadi Wahyono, Achmad Djunaedi, Bakti Setiawan, Leksono Subanu

Abstract
In Indonesia, people have an obligation to get an education in primary and secondary schools, and the freedom to choose the school and its location in accordance with their capabilities, without being limited by borders of regions. Nevertheless, it is regulated by local government policy which has the authority over the direction of the services of the state elementary and high schools in their region. As a result, such policies between neighboring regions can vary, and can affect cross-regions border services, particularly in the border areas. The difference occurs in in the border area of the City of Semarang and its neighbors. The Local Government of the city has a policy in the school service zoning area, with the goal to equalize school services and give priority to residents around the school to attend the school. The policy restricts the number of students by the origins. Highest number of students in a school are coming from around the school. While the smallest number is derived from outside the area. The policy is different from those of the neighboring regions, which does not limit the number of students from outside the region. These differences give rise to objections from the neighboring regions. To avoid the inter-regions conflict, the draft policies are discussed through a series of meetings conducted with the involvement of stakeholders, mediated by the Office of Education of Central Java Province. The meetings are an implementation form of collaborative planning approach. In order for such an approach can be applied operationally, the strategic collaboration between regions is needed. The research discussed in this article aims to menkaji how strategic collaboration among cross-border regions in the service area of public elementary and secondary schools in the border area of Semarang in Indonesia. The study used a qualitative case study research method, which examines data derived from interviews, field observations and documents. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis method. The study shows that the inter-regions collaboration strategy used in the interactions is the functionary-assertive strategy. The strategy is functioning as it relates to the function of the regions in managing cross-regions border education. The functional strategies are assertive as interacting regions have the confidence to get the service from its neighbors in the border region.

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