Why Oprah Is Closing Her South Africa Girls Academy

Oprah Winfrey has announced that her South Africa girls academy will close in its current form after 2027 as she shifts her focus to a larger scholarship program designed to reach more young women across the country.

The media mogul said the decision marks a new chapter in her long-standing commitment to education. Instead of operating a single campus, she plans to expand access to educational opportunities through scholarships that will benefit more students.

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls will graduate its final two classes before transitioning to local leadership.

Oprah South Africa girls academy to transition after 20 years

Winfrey announced on July 29 that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls will end operations in its current form at the close of 2027.

“The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women,” Winfrey said in a statement.

She added that her mission extends beyond one campus and will continue by supporting girls throughout South Africa.

According to a representative for Winfrey, the provincial government will assume responsibility for operating the school once the transition is complete.

Scholarship program will reach more students

After the academy’s remaining students graduate, Winfrey will launch an expanded scholarship initiative across South Africa.

According to her representative, the new model will allow twice as many girls to access educational opportunities compared with the academy alone.

Current students will continue receiving support throughout their education. Those who do not complete their studies before the transition will attend other top-tier schools, with Winfrey covering their tuition until graduation.

Winfrey said she is excited about the next phase because it will allow her organization to help even more young women fulfill their educational goals.

Academy has educated more than 1,000 graduates

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls opened in 2007 to provide quality education for academically talented girls from disadvantaged communities across South Africa.

Since then, the academy has graduated more than 1,000 students.

According to information released by the academy, research found that nearly all surveyed graduates pursued higher education. Many also reported that their education positively transformed their families and communities.

Winfrey has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the academy over the years.

Oprah reflects on the academy’s lasting legacy

Although the school experienced early challenges, including a widely reported controversy involving a former staff member who was later acquitted of abuse allegations, the academy continued its educational mission and became an important institution for many young women.

Winfrey has frequently described the school as one of the most meaningful accomplishments of her life.

In a previous interview with PEOPLE, she called the academy her “greatest legacy” and said the students remain her “deepest, greatest joy.”

With the transition now underway, Winfrey says her commitment to empowering young women through education remains unchanged. Instead, she believes the expanded scholarship model will allow her impact to grow far beyond a single campus.

Source: PEOPLE