Education Minister Fayval Williams has expressed sadness following the deaths of at least five educators, over the past week.

The educators have been identified as, Gregory Williams, a Mathematics Lecturer at the Portmore Community College; Mrs. Antoinette Banton-Ellis, principal of the Vere Technical High School; Mrs. Ann Marie Johnson Lindo, Vice Principal of the Duncans All-Age School; Mr. Carlos Gordon, a grade 6 teacher of One Way Prep School; and Ms. Donna lee Wright, a teacher of the Tarrant High School.

In a statement, Mrs. Williams described the sudden deaths of the educators as a big shock to the education sector.

She said representatives from the Ministry’s Guidance and Counselling Unit have been meeting with the administrations of the affected institutions, offering grief counselling and other support.

Meantime, President of the Jamaica Teachers Association, JTA, Winston Smith said more than 5 teachers may have died in the past week.

Noting the connection between an educators ability to afford a good healthy life to being given an adequate salary, the JTA President called for a speedy resolution to the government’s compensation review.