Oprah Winfrey to Shut Down South Africa Girls' Academy, Launch New Scholarship Programme

After two decades of providing quality education to young girls in South Africa, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls will be closing its doors in 2027. According to Oprah Daily, the academy's campus will be returned to the Gauteng Department of Education following the completion of the 2027 academic year, as stipulated in the initial partnership agreement. Despite the closure, current students will not be left stranded, as they will be allowed to complete their education with uninterrupted financial support. In fact, Oprah Winfrey has announced plans to launch a new scholarship programme, which will commence after the academy's students have graduated. This new initiative is expected to 'double the amount of girls who will have access to education through this model,' according to a representative of the media mogul. The representative further noted that the remaining students will be transferred to top-tier schools, with their tuition fees fully paid by Ms. Winfrey until they graduate. In a video shared by Oprah Daily, the 72-year-old expressed her pride and admiration for the academy's alumni, stating, 'I am dazzled and in awe of them.' She highlighted their achievements, saying, 'Spanning every area of the workforce, they are businesswomen and lawyers, mothers, doctors, digital content creators, artists, managers, CEOs.' Oprah Winfrey reiterated her commitment to empowering young women, saying, 'The dream that began with one academy will now reach even farther, opening doors for even more young women across South Africa through scholarships and educational partnerships.' She emphasized that her mission remains unchanged, which is 'to help young women discover their own power, transform their own lives, and in doing so, transform the future of South Africa.'