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HIGHLIGHTS INTO DR. CHIEPE’S LIFE JOURNEY

Happy 100th birthday to the iconic giant who was instrument in the formulation of the Botswana education system.

The iconic Dr. Chiepe was born in October 20th in 1922, the former politician with the ruling party Botswana Democratic Party added to the contribution and played a role in the development of the country turns 100 years old today.

The former diplomat went to primary school in Serowe in the central district, and then proceeded to do her secondary in Tigerkloof, in South Africa for her secondary education, having received a scholarship as the best student in the country.

She went on and proceeded to do her Bachelor of Science Degree and Post graduate Diploma in Education at the University of Fort Hare, the title of her thesis during her post-graduate studies was ‘An Investigation of the Problems of Popular Education in the Bechuanaland Protectorate in the Light of Comparative Study of Similar Problems in the Early Stages of English Education and in the Development of Education in Yugoslavia and Uganda’.

Dr. Chiepe later went to do her Master’s Degree at the University of Bristol, England in 1958 and holds an honorary doctorate degrees from the Universities of Bristol and Depaul. The former cabinet minister was awarded national honours by both Great Britain and Botswana and was named Chief Councillor of the Royal Order of King Sobhuza II of Eswatini.

She was Botswana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Dr Chiepe was also an ambassador to West Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the European Economic Community.

In 1977 she became Botswana’s Minister for Trade and Industry and in 1984 she became Minister of Foreign Affairs where she later served as Minister of Education from 1994 to 1999. However, this is not all, Dr Chiepe counts a number of firsts to her name; she was the first Motswana lady to earn a diploma and college degree and the first Motswana lady to earn a postgraduate degree. During Botswana’s independence in 1966, Dr Chiepe became Botswana’s first director of education and was asked to come up with a system which would bring education to people across the nation based on a home-grown curriculum.

Dr Chiepe also takes pride in being; First Female African High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (1970-1974) Cabinet Minister, Republic of Botswana (1974-1999) Commander, Royal Order of Polar Star, King of Sweden (2006) Grand Cordon, Order of the Rising Sun, Japan (2010), being the first women in the educational platform of botswana, She was National Deputy Commander Of Girl Guides in 1953,1957 and 1963, Botswana Branch, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), 1981; Chairman of the African Region of the CPA,1981-1983. She was a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts(1973),honorary President of the Kalahari Conservation Society (1982)  and patron, Forestry Association of Botswana (1984).

Dr Chiepe retired from public service in 1999 after nearly 30 years of high level positions, she was awarded honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2009 for her outstanding work in the development of the country in the University of Botswana.

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