A plan that would have seen three primary school principals swap their posts next month appears to have been put on hold by the Ministry of Education.

Gina Tucker, Stanfield Smith and Livingston Tuzo, headteachers of Victor Scott, Northlands and West End respectively, had been told they would be moving in the new school term.

But the Association of School Principals told The Royal Gazette yesterday that the idea had stalled.

ASP president Freddie Evans said: "We were told it was something they were considering. They were considering something and obviously they have changed their mind.

"They did call to tell us what they were considering. We were told they were no longer considering it for now."

Mr. Smith was due to move to West End Primary School, which would have meant his wife Sandra, the deputy principal there, had to swap positions with Michael Bean, deputy principal at Purvis Primary.

Dr. Tucker was headed for Northlands and Mr. Tuzo would have taken over at Victor Scott.

This newspaper understands that all five people will now stay in their regular roles — though the Ministry of Education did not respond to a request for information yesterday.

The three principals are believed to have met with Ministry officials earlier in the summer to discuss the idea.

Reeshemah Swan, vice-president of Bermuda Union of Teachers, said the union had not yet received official notification that the plan was off.

She said Mrs. Smith and Mr. Bean, both BUT members, were called to the Ministry last week to discuss the transfer. She said Mrs. Smith advised her yesterday that the pair were no longer swapping positions.

"I'm surprised," said Ms Swan. "The last that we knew was that there was a lawyer looking into it on behalf of the Association of School Principals."

Ms Swan added: "We really didn't have any problems with the move.

"It would have been nice if notification could have been given earlier so students could have said their final goodbyes. But we didn't have any real problems with the transfers."

Dr. Tucker and Mr. Smith declined to comment. Mr. Tuzo could not be reached.