Remembering Dr Chiepe

Chiepe began serving as a cabinet minister of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party in 1974. Gaositwe K. T. Chiepe was born in Serowe, daughter of T. and S. T. Chiepe (nee Sebina). She went to primary school in Serowe and then proceeded to Tigerkloof, South Africa, for secondary education, after which she went to the University of Fort Hare, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree and postgraduate Diploma in Education. She later went to the University of Bristol, England, for a Master's degree (1958).

Her thesis for that degree was entitled "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." She also held honorary doctorate degrees from the Universities of Bristol and DePaul. She was awarded national honors by both Great Britain and Botswana and was named Chief Councillor of the Royal Order of King Sobhuza II (Swaziland).