Agus Maryono, Purbalingga, Central Java – Hundreds of teachers from various schools across the Central Java town of Purbalingga rallied outside the regent's office Friday to protest overlapping policies which they said had played havoc with their careers.

The protesters, who teach religion in primary and secondary schools as well as Islamic schools, complained that their supervision by the national education agency had slowed their certification process.

"Our certification and promotion process is unclear as the education agency prioritizes teachers of other subjects. We are victims of discrimination," Suryono of SMA 2 state senior high school said. In the past, recruitment and supervision of teachers of religion classes was conducted by the religious affairs agency.

The protesters demanded the regent revive the old policy and place them under the auspices of the religious affairs agency.

Regent Triyono Budi Sasongko promised to help the teachers and would seek clarification from both the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs concerning the teachers' status.

"I will ask the regional secretary, the head of the national education agency and the head of the religious affairs agency to formulate a new regulation that will put an end to the overlapping policies," Triyono said.