27 Oct 2025

Molepolole College of Education (MCE) on Thursday celebrated 40 years of academic excellence, marked by years of producing thousands of teachers who have gone on to shape this country’s education landscape.

The milestone celebration held under the theme: A Legacy of Learning; 40 Years and Beyond, drew past and present students and lecturers from various parts of the country as well as the Minister of Higher Education Mr Prince Maele who was also the guest speaker.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Maele commended the college for its four decades of dedicated service to teacher training and nation building, describing MCE as one of the finest institutions in Botswana’ that continued to produce educators of integrity and distinction.

Minister Maele stressed that the celebration was not only about the passage of time but about the legacy of learning and enduring impact that Molepolole College of Education has had on Botswana’s education system, on communities and on the thousands of teachers who had walked through its gates.

Tracing the college’s journey, Mr Maele recalled that the ground- breaking ceremony for MCE was held in 1983 and presided over by the late Dr Gaositwe Chiepe while the official opening took place in 1985 under the leadership of the late, President Sir Ketumile Masire.

He praised the college for maintaining high academic standards and producing teachers who have served the country with dedication. He said as Botswana moved toward the Fourth Industrial Revolution, investing in education and human capital remained essential.

“It is people, not infrastructure that drive progress. When we invest in education, in our teachers, our youth and our innovators, we create the very engine that propels Botswana’s economic growth and prosperity,” he said.

Mr Maele reaffirmed government’s commitment to transforming tertiary education to meet modern needs, highlighting key priorities such as strengthening research partnerships, promoting lifelong learning and reorienting education towards digital and critical thinking skills.

Earlier, MCE principal Ms Bawisisi Nchabe reflected on the college’s legacy and called for the introduction of Bachelors’ Degree programmes in colleges of education to align with the country’s evolving needs.

“Introducing a credit system in 2023 was not enough. A diploma qualification is now outdated and does not suit the 21st-century learner. We call upon the minister to ensure that colleges of education offer Bachelors’ Degree qualifications,” she said.

Ms Nchabe said MCE had enrolled a total of 7,448 students since 1985 with 7,630 graduating, representing a 99.6 per cent success rate. She noted that the class of 2025 achieved 16 distinctions with a progression rate of 99.8 per cent. She described MCE as a trailblazer in education that continued to nurture responsible global citizens.

In his remarks, Kgosi Lawrence Mhaladi said MCE remained a source of pride for Bakwena, noting that the college had lived up to its founding purpose of producing teachers who mould future generations.

Representing the alumni, Mr Selefo Mosanako of the pioneer class of 1987 reminisced about the early days of the college, recalling that their class had just about 70 students when lessons began on March 4, 1985.

“Our motto, ‘Lesedi le apotswe’ meant that where you see a teacher, you see light. “We were taught that teaching is a calling; something you do because you love it, not just because you need a job,” he said.

The Student Representative Council (SRC) president, Mr Matthews Batlhatswe encouraged students and decision makers to embrace innovation and collaboration in shaping their future. ENDS