The Ministry of Education has suspended the grade 9 examinations this week without citing a reason.

In a letter sent yesterday, parents and students are informed that examinations slated to take place today and Tuesday would instead take place on September 26 and 27.

The government last week pointed to the scheduled two-day exams as the reason why the opposition would be legally permitted only a single day of protests.

But asked whether the cancellation had to do with the demonstrations – which began yesterday and which the opposition has vowed would last at least three days – Sam Sereiroth, secretary-general of the education secretariat at the ministry, declined to respond.

“We do not have a reason for the suspension, ” he said, declining to comment further.

Kim Khana, 16, expressed disappointment over the suspension of exams. “I don’t want to wait any longer. ”