The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport has set December 27 as the new date for high school diploma examination. The Grade 12 exam was originally scheduled for December 6.

The ministry said the delay is intended to give students more time for preparation as schools only began to reopen partially in mid-September and fully on November 1.

Education ministry spokesman Ros Soveacha confirmed to The Post on November 6 that the decision followed thorough discussions and reiterated that the exam will proceed on December 27 according to procedures.

“The examination must take place based on the principles of law, justice, transparency and acceptable results and be held in accordance with health and safety measures as planned,” he said.

Education minister Hang Chuon Naron on November 3 told reporters that the postponement was to encourage students to work harder ahead of the exam and to avoid the risk of dropout.

He said a total of 1,300 schools with more than two million students across the country reopened on November 1 with over 90 per cent of teachers having been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.