Banyumas – Nearly 9,000 teachers in Banyumas, Central Java, demanded the local education office Thursday pay their overdue allowances, which they claim had not been disbursed in the last eight months.

The additional income the teachers were entitled to were in the form of certification allowances, especially for those who passed certification tests. There were additional allowances for all teachers, civil servants and contracts workers.

The total allowance amount was calculated to reach nearly Rp 45 billion. "What's the matter with the regent? Is he our enemy and why is he violating our rights?" asked Yanto, a teacher.

"We have been patient thus far, but patience has its limits," said Yanto who has received two months of eight months' allowance.

He said the education office should not have delayed the payment of the certification allowances, which were taken from the state budget.

The duty of the office was to pay the teachers in cash, Yanto said.