Ranchi, July 21: Some students do not have to make a dash for school early tomorrow morning, as they have changed timings due to the solar eclipse.

The city school management has taken the decision following requests from parents, who believed that their children will not be able to take a bath and have breakfast till the eclipse is over.

While some schools will function between 8.30am and 2.30pm, others will start even later — from 9.20am-1.20pm. At present, schools follow the 7am to 1pm/2.30pm schedule.

However, the vice-principal of Kairali School, V.K. Pathak, said they have decided to keep their school closed. “Parents have said they would not send their children to school due to certain religious beliefs,” Pathak said.

Other school principals like Father Ajit Khess of St Xavier’s School said he would extend class hours for juniors (10am-3.30pm) and seniors (9am till 2.30pm). “We have to follow the sentiments of the people,” Khess said.

One of the parents, Sunita Singh, whose daughter studies at DAV Public School, Hehal, said the decision taken by the school management is praiseworthy. “I would only allow my children to take a bath and have breakfast after the eclipse gets over,” Singh said.

While the regional director of DAV, Ranchi zone, L.R. Saini said that they have relaxed their timings by an hour and a half. Principal of Delhi Public School (DPS), J. Mohanty, said that for seniors, classes will be held from 9.15am to 1.20pm while for juniors it will be from 10.30am to 2.50pm.

“It is best to change the timings, otherwise students would not attend at all,” said secretary of Guru Nanak Higher Secondary school, Harjeet Singh Sahni.