Parish: St. Andrew
Shortwood Teachers’ College, a cornerstone of Jamaica’s teacher education system, began operations on September 28, 1885, during a pivotal era of social, economic, and political reforms initiated by Sir John Peter Grant, the governor of Jamaica following the Morant Bay Rebellion. The institution was established to address the critical need for trained female teachers, which had been identified by the Superintendent Inspector of Schools by the 1880s. The Government responded by sanctioning the creation of the Jamaica Female Training College, marking a significant step in advancing education for women on the island.
The College initially opened at Lower Barbican House in St. Andrew, enrolling 18 students under the leadership of its first principal, Mrs. Amy Charlotte Johnson (1885–1898). However, its early years were marked by challenges, including an outbreak of yellow fever during its first year, which forced a temporary relocation to Camperdown. In 1887, the institut…
