# Edwin Allen

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For the New Brunswick politician, see [Edwin G. Allen](/source/Edwin_G._Allen). For the American politician in Kansas, see [Edwin Bird Allen](/source/Edwin_Bird_Allen).

**Edwin Leopold Allen** (April 17, 1905 – February 19, 1984) was a Jamaican politician, representing the [Jamaica Labour Party](/source/Jamaica_Labour_Party) (JLP). He served twice as minister of education (1953-1955) and (1962-1972). He was the first and longest-serving Minister of Education of independent Jamaica.[1]

## Early life and education

Allen was born on April 17, 1905, in [St. Andrew](/source/Saint_Andrew_Parish,_Jamaica), [Jamaica](/source/Jamaica). He was the son of David Allen and Aneita Celestine Allen (nee Nugent).[2] Allen was educated at [Mico College](/source/Mico_College) and at the [Institute of Education](/source/UCL_Institute_of_Education) of the [University of London](/source/University_of_London), where he received a [BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) in History, Law and Economics, and was awarded a teaching professional certificate.[3]

## Teaching career

Allen served as head teacher (1928-1929) at Mt Felix Elementary School in [St. Thomas](/source/Saint_Thomas_Parish,_Jamaica), Chantily Elementary School, [Manchester](/source/Manchester_Parish) (1929-1930) and at Leicesterfield Primary School in [Clarendon](/source/Clarendon_Parish,_Jamaica) (1931-1950).[2][3]

## Political career

Allen was first elected to the [House of Representatives](/source/Parliament_of_Jamaica) from the [Clarendon North Western](/source/Clarendon_North_Western) constituency in the 1950 by-election. In 1953, he was appointed Minister of Education and Social Welfare in the [Bustamante](/source/Alexander_Bustamante)-led JLP administration, succeeding [L. L. Simmonds](/source/L._L._Simmonds). He served in this capacity until 1955, when he was succeeded by [Ivan Lloyd](/source/Ivan_Lloyd) of the [People's National Party](/source/People's_National_Party) (PNP).[4]

Allen again won the North-West Clarendon seat in the [1955 general election](/source/1955_Jamaican_general_election), polling 8,213 votes to the PNP's William Linton, who obtained 7,758 votes.[5] However, he was defeated in the [1959 general election](/source/1959_Jamaican_general_election) by O. Alphansus Malcolm of the PNP. Allen polled 7,663 vote to Malcolm's 8,125.[6] He went on to serve as Member of the Legislative Council (now [Senate](/source/Jamaican_Parliament)) from 1959 to 1962.[2]

The JLP won the [1962 general election](/source/1962_Jamaican_general_election), and Allen was returned to Parliament from the North-West Clarendon constituency, polling 8,056 votes to Malcolm's 6,644.[7] He was again appointed minister of education, succeeding [Ivan Lloyd](/source/Ivan_Lloyd), and becoming the first occupant of this position in independent Jamaica. From 1962 to 1972, Allen served as education minister in successive JLP administrations led by [Sir Donald Sangster](/source/Donald_Sangster) and [Hugh Shearer](/source/Hugh_Shearer). He was succeeded in this position by the PNP's [Sir Florizel Glaspole](/source/Florizel_Glasspole) in 1972.

Allen won the [1972 general election](/source/1972_Jamaican_general_election) by a 49 vote majority, polling 4,551 votes to 4,455 for Percival Minott of the PNP.[8] He was defeated at the polls in the [1976 general election](/source/1976_Jamaican_general_election) by Minott who obtained 6,863 votes to Allen's 6,829 (a 34 vote majority).[9] Allen subsequently defeated Minott in the [1980 general election](/source/1980_Jamaican_general_election), polling 8,625 votes to Minott's 5,965.[10] He retired from active political life in December 1983.[11][12]

## Legacy

Allen is credited for his pioneering approach to the development of education in Jamaica as outlined in his December 1966 policy paper titled "A New Deal in Education". During Allen's tenure as Minister of Education, secondary education was expanded to an additional 33,000 students and 108 new primary schools were constructed or started. He is credited with securing funding for the construction of the [Sam Sharpe Teachers College](/source/Sam_Sharpe_Teachers_College) and, under his watch, tertiary education institutions such as the former [College of Arts, Science and Technology](/source/University_of_Technology,_Jamaica) saw significant expansion.[3]

## Honors and awards

- Allen was posthumously awarded Jamaica’s fourth-highest honour, the [Order of Jamaica](/source/Order_of_Jamaica), in 1984.[13]
- In 1984, the Frankfield Comprehensive High School in [Clarendon](/source/Clarendon_Parish,_Jamaica) was renamed the [Edwin Allen High School](/source/Edwin_Allen_High_School) in his honour[14]

## Personal life and death

Allen was first married to Mabel Blanche (née Hector) in 1929. His first wife died in 1973. He then married Edith Monica (née Dale) in 1982. Allen died at the [University Hospital](/source/University_of_the_West_Indies), [Kingston](/source/Kingston,_Jamaica), on February 19, 1984, at the age of 78.[3][15]

## See also

- [List of education ministers of Jamaica](/source/List_of_education_ministers_of_Jamaica)

## References

1. ["The Ministry of Education Story"](https://moey.gov.jm/about). Ministry of Education. Retrieved 2020-09-16.

1. ["Allen, Edwin Leopold"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200917032740/http://jamaica-star.com/). April 11, 1975. Archived from [the original](http://jamaica-star.com/) on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-16.

1. ["Edwin Allen is dead"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200917013037/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/). Archived from [the original](http://jamaica-gleaner.com/) on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-16.

1. Troy Caine (August 6, 2017). ["Jamaica's political journey to Independence"](http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/jamaica-8217-s-political-journey-to_106279?profile=1096). [Jamaica Observer](/source/Jamaica_Observer). Retrieved 2020-09-11.

1. ["General Election 1955"](https://ecj.com.jm/election-results/general-election-1955/). [Electoral Commission of Jamaica](/source/Electoral_Commission_of_Jamaica). Retrieved 2020-09-16.

1. ["General Election 1959"](https://ecj.com.jm/election-results/general-election-1959/). [Electoral Commission of Jamaica](/source/Electoral_Commission_of_Jamaica). Retrieved 2020-09-16.

1. ["General Election 1962"](https://ecj.com.jm/election-results/general-election-1962/). [Electoral Commission of Jamaica](/source/Electoral_Commission_of_Jamaica). Retrieved 2020-09-16.

1. ["General Election 1972"](https://ecj.com.jm/election-results/general-election-1972/). [Electoral Commission of Jamaica](/source/Electoral_Commission_of_Jamaica). Retrieved 2020-09-16.

1. ["General Election 1976"](https://ecj.com.jm/election-results/general-election-1976/). [Electoral Commission of Jamaica](/source/Electoral_Commission_of_Jamaica). Retrieved 2020-09-16.

1. ["General Election 1980"](https://ecj.com.jm/election-results/general-election-1980/). [Electoral Commission of Jamaica](/source/Electoral_Commission_of_Jamaica). Retrieved 2020-09-16.

1. Troy Caine (March 18, 1984). ["Edwin Allen - tribute to a political giant"](https://nlj.gov.jm/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/bn_allen_el_005.pdf). [National Library of Jamaica](/source/National_Library_of_Jamaica). Retrieved 2020-09-17.

1. ["Edwin Allen Honoured with Unveiling of Bust"](https://jis.gov.jm/edwin-allen-honoured-with-unveiling-of-bust/). Jamaica Information Service. June 10, 2005. Retrieved 2020-09-17.

1. ["Jamaican History 9 1984-1993"](http://www.discoverjamaica.com/gleaner/discover/geography/history9.htm). [Jamaica Gleaner](/source/Jamaica_Gleaner). Retrieved 2020-09-17.

1. ["School to be re-named in honour of Edwin Allen"](https://nlj.gov.jm/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/bn_allen_el_002.pdf). [Jamaica Gleaner](/source/Jamaica_Gleaner). Retrieved 2020-09-17.

1. ["Mr. Allen's Achievement"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200917013037/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/). February 20, 1984. Archived from [the original](http://jamaica-gleaner.com/) on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-16.

## External links

- [Edwin Allen Related Documents](https://nlj.gov.jm/project/edwin-allen-b-jp/), [National Library of Jamaica](/source/National_Library_of_Jamaica)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Edwin Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Allen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Allen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.