Full Breakdown
Oprah Winfrey’s South African Girls’ Academy to Close After 2027 Academic Year
7/31/2026, 10:05:05 PM
Closure of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG), the $40 million (£20 million) boarding school near Johannesburg, will cease operations at the end of the 2027 academic year. The campus will be handed over to Gauteng’s Department of Education in accordance with the original partnership agreement. Current students, numbering 281, will receive uninterrupted financial support to complete their studies elsewhere.
Background and Founding
Oprah Winfrey launched OWLAG in 2007 after conversations with former President Nelson Mandela, who attended the opening ceremony. The school was built to provide free, high-quality education to under-privileged South African girls. Its 52-acre site includes 21 classrooms, six science and computer laboratories, a 10,000-volume library and a 600-seat theatre. Critics initially questioned the lavish facilities, while a 2007 abuse allegation against a dormitory matron was later dismissed in 2010.
Official Statements
In a statement issued by the academy, Oprah Winfrey said, “The dream was never simply to build a school,” emphasizing that her mission extends beyond a single campus. Gauteng Provincial Minister for Education Lebogang Maile confirmed that the department will preserve the academy’s legacy and continue supporting enrolled students. The foundation also announced an expanded national scholarship programme to fund academically talented girls at leading schools across South Africa.
Data and Statistics
- Cost of construction: $40 million (£20 million)
- Current enrollment: 281 students
- Graduates: sources differ, with the BBC reporting “more than 1,000” alumni and the Washington Times citing “more than 500.”
- Facilities: 21 classrooms, six labs, 10,000-volume library, 600-seat theatre
Verbatim Quotes
- “The dream was never simply to build a school,” — Oprah Winfrey
- “If you change one woman’s life, she’ll go on to change her children’s lives, her community’s lives. And that will have a ripple effect.” — Kirsten
These statements underscore the academy’s shift from a single campus to a broader scholarship-based model aimed at transforming the lives of South African girls nationwide.
