Oprah Winfrey to Close South Africa Girls' Academy and Expand Scholarship Program
Oprah Winfrey announced the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy of Girls will cease operations in 2027, with the provincial government taking over the school while she shifts focus to a broader scholarship initiative for South African girls.
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy of Girls in South Africa will close its current operations at the end of 2027, after which the provincial government will assume control of the facility as a public school. The transition follows a statement by Winfrey, 72, in which she said the academy’s purpose was to invest in the potential of young women rather than merely construct a school.
A representative for Winfrey explained that the academy will graduate two more classes, and the remaining students will be placed in top-tier schools with tuition fully funded by Winfrey. After the final cohort graduates, the focus will shift to an expanded scholarship program that aims to double the number of South African girls receiving educational support.
Since its opening in 2007, more than 1,000 girls have graduated from the academy, and a cited study indicated that the majority of surveyed alumni pursued higher education and reported positive impacts on their families. The decision to move to the new model was described as a response to the success of the academy’s graduates over the past two decades.
"The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women," Winfrey said in her statement.
"I'm excited that this next chapter will allow us to reach even more young women across South Africa and continue the promise that began more than 20 years ago," she added.
The scholarship initiative is expected to begin after the current students have completed their studies, with the aim of providing broader access to education for girls from disadvantaged communities.