Acting school principals said this week that they were up to the job.

Kenneth Caesar, who is in charge at CedarBridge Academy, said there was no difference between a temporary head teacher and a permanent one.

Mr Caesar added: “I’m expected to do everything and report to the necessary parties.”

He was backed by Kalley Baxter-Williams, acting principal at Sandys Secondary Middle School, who said she was looking at school readiness the same way a permanent principal would.

She added: “We want to ensure that all things are in place so that we can have a successful start to the school year.”

The two were speaking after Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, said this week that there was no difference in the responsibilities of an acting principal and a permanent principal.

He added: “There is no expectation of any reduction in their effectiveness, whether they are acting or confirmed to the post.”

Mr Caesar, the former principal at Sandys Secondary, has served as CedarBridge’s acting principal since January.

He said he was not sure how long he would continue in the role and that there had been no discussions about him getting the job on a permanent basis.

He added he was not worried at the possibility that Ms Richards might return to the school.

Mr Caesar said: “I understood what I was getting into, so it doesn’t really impact me. As an individual, I have a vision for what education should be like and I was able to understand the vision of CedarBridge.”

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education said this week that two new permanent principals and one new acting principal had been appointed for the start of the new school year.

She added: “All schools will have either principals or acting principals in place by September 4.”

The spokeswoman added that four acting principals already in place would continue in their posts. She declined to name the appointees and the schools they would work at.

The spokeswoman also said four primary school positions — one art teacher, one learning support teacher and two classroom teachers — were vacant.

The spokeswoman said that candidates had been identified for the four jobs and the posts would be filled by the start of the school year.

Two middle school music teacher positions remain vacant and a physical education position and a science teacher post have still to be filled at the senior level.