Oprah Winfrey is closing her South African school for girls at the end of 2027. The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls has operated for nearly 20 years.
Founded in 2007 after talks with Nelson Mandela, the academy graduated over 500 girls. Nearly all—99%—went on to higher education. Many attended top universities in South Africa, the U.S., and Europe.
The 52-acre campus features 21 classrooms, six science and computer labs, a 10,000-volume library, and a 600-seat theater. All current students will finish their education without interruption. The Gauteng provincial government will take over the campus, returning it to the Gauteng Department of Education.
Oprah said, “The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission doesn’t end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education.”
Nearly 90% of graduates said the academy gave them opportunities they wouldn’t have had otherwise. Ninety-four percent reported their education positively impacted their families. Alumni have become physicians, educators, engineers, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, executives, and change agents.
The academy faced controversy when a dormitory matron was accused of abuse but acquitted in 2010. Despite that, the school maintained its mission and reputation.
Gauteng MEC for Education Lebogang Maile praised Oprah’s contribution, saying, “Her enduring impact extends significantly beyond the institution’s boundaries.” The transition to provincial control aims to keep benefiting future students.
The school’s closure will coincide with the launch of a nationwide scholarship program. This program intends to support academically talented girls across South Africa, extending the academy’s mission beyond its physical campus.
All enrolled students will receive ongoing academic, financial, and personal support during the transition. The academy’s initial agreement always planned for the campus to return to the provincial education department.
A mother of a former student called the school “a godsend school.” The legacy of nearly two decades of education will continue—just in a new form.
Based on
- Mark Zuckerberg’s Wife Shuts Down School for the Disadvantaged — futurism.com
- Oprah Winfrey is closing her school for girls in South Africa next year | The Independent — independent.co.uk
- The world’s richest black woman, Oprah Winfrey, closes down her school operations in South Africa after 2 decades | Business Insider Africa — africa.businessinsider.com
- Trump overhaul could gut Head Start preschool standards and leave states to set rules | The Independent — independent.co.uk
- Oprah Winfrey school for girls in South Africa to close next year — ctvnews.ca
