KUWAIT: The education ministry announced Monday that classes at government and private schools will be suspended on Tuesday due to a partial solar eclipse expected to be at 1:20 pm local time. Classes will resume on Wednesday. In a statement, the ministry said that the decision came out of concern for the safety of students, based on recommendations of the ministry of health not to be exposed to direct sunlight two hours before the eclipse to protect the eyes.

The ministry affirmed its constant keenness to implement all necessary measures to keep students safe and provide the appropriate educational environment. However, Kuwait University announced that Tuesday will not be an off day for students, urging them to stay cautious and avoid looking directly at the sun without wearing protective glasses.

The ministry of awqaf and Islamic affairs on Monday called on imams and scholars to hold eclipse prayers on Tuesday. The ministry said in a statement that a circular was issued by the assistant undersecretary for the mosques sector Bader Al-Otaibi specifying the mosques where the prayers would be held from 1:30 pm.

Director of Ophthalmology at the Ministry of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Foudari warned on Monday that looking at the sun during a solar eclipse could lead to eye damage or blindness. In a statement to KUNA, he warned against staring at the sun for long, adding the eclipse will begin on Tuesday at 13:20:30 hours, reach its peak at 14:35:34 and end at 15:44:13, at a percentage of 53.4 percent. - KUNA