Janka Zirzen

Janka Zirzen (23 May 1824 – 28 December 1904) was a Hungarian teacher who was a pioneer in the field of women's education and teacher training in Hungary. In 1869, she became the first woman in Hungary to head a public training school when she was appointed as the director of the newly established teacher training school. She also played an important role in introducing industrial education for women along with regular teacher training.

Life and early career Janka Zirzen was born on 23 May 1824 in a family with a small estate in Jászberény, Hungary, where she was raised by her mother, a midwife. In 1898, the institute was renamed Elizabeth Women's School in memory of Queen Elizabeth.

Awards and honours In 1877, Emperor Francis Joseph himself visited the training institute and conferred the Golden Cross of Merit with the Crown on Zirzen for recognizing her contributions in the field of women education. A teacher training college in Jászberény was also named after her.

Death Zirzen retired in 1896. She died on 28 December 1904 in Budapest.