13 Mar 2018

Former Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe, has been inaugurated as the founding chancellor of Botswana Open University (BOU), previously known as Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning (BOCODOL).

Chancellor of Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, University of Botswana chancellor, Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Botswana International University of Science and Technology chancellor, Dr Festus Mogae were among the dignitaries that graced the ceremony.

In his acceptance speech after his installation by BOU Council chairperson, Mr Charles Coyne, Dr Kedikilwe said, ‘I deeply appreciate the responsibilities of my ambassadorial role’.

Dr Kedikilwe said BOU, in its formative years as BOCODOL, has had considerable influence on the lives of many Batswana. Since its establishment in 2000, he said the institution had bestowed no less than 74 000 certificates.

“It brings to the fore my respect and admiration for those who succeeded through learning by correspondence, where the teacher was far removed from the student by geographical distance.
It takes great effort, self-discipline, commitment and determination,” he added.

Dr Kedikilwe expressed gratitude that it was the National Commission on Education, commonly known as the Kedikilwe Commission, which in 1993 recommended the setting up of a college specialising in open and distance learning. For that reason, he said he regarded BOCODOL as the Education Commission’s enabling step towards a consummate destination.

The idea behind a standing National Council on Education was, among others, to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the education policy, to monitor quality of the education system and to initiate reviews of particular aspects of education

Universities in Botswana and the world over, Dr Kedikilwe said were going through challenging times.

During the past 30 years, he said universities had been subjected to sweeping changes; in the way they were funded and managed, in the social demands and expectations for their performance, in the regulatory environment to which they are subjected and in the international competitive arena in which they participate.

“This means that charting a successful path for BOU over the next few years is going to require the dedicated efforts of everyone involved in the institution - from the council to the vice chancellor to the senate and to all members of staff. I pledge to support these efforts,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Alfred Madigele said Dr Kedikilwe’s experience, intellect and wisdom made him the perfect choice for the position.

The minister added that Dr Kedikilwe’s personal and professional experience in the fields of philosophy and education also positioned him as the right candidate for the chancellorship. “I am sure that you will provide wise counsel and guidance to the institution,” he said.

The establishment of the new university, he said, was testament to government’s commitment to the expansion of tertiary education as part of its aim to build a knowledge society ‘and to transform Botswana into a high income country, as stated in Vision 2036.’

“It is also a demonstration of government’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations,” he added. ENDS