Oprah Winfrey has announced that her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa will permanently close after the 2027 academic year, marking the end of a 20-year educational initiative. The decision aligns with the original partnership agreement that stipulated the campus would eventually be handed back to the Gauteng Department of Education.
Transition Plan and Student Support
All current students enrolled at OWLAG will be able to complete their secondary education without interruption, as Winfrey has pledged continued financial support for each girl through graduation. According to a representative for Winfrey, students will be transferred to other top-tier schools, with their tuition fully covered by Ms. Winfrey until they graduate.
The return of the school campus to local authorities is a key provision of the initial agreement signed when the academy was founded in 2007. The Gauteng Department of Education will assume operational responsibility for the facility after the 2027 academic year concludes. A spokesperson for Winfrey confirmed that the transition is part of a broader strategic shift toward a scholarship-based model.
New Scholarship Program Expands Reach
Winfrey's representative outlined that a new scholarship initiative will begin after the current OWLAG students have graduated. The program is designed to “double the amount of girls who will have access to education through this model.” The decision to adopt this new approach stems from the demonstrated success of OWLAG alumni over the past two decades. “That is the core of the decision to shift to this new model after seeing the success of the students the past 20 years,” the rep told People magazine.
The scholarship program will operate in partnership with educational institutions across South Africa, providing financial aid and support to young women who might otherwise lack access to quality education. Winfrey emphasized that the new model will enable her to reach more girls than ever before, extending opportunities well beyond the single campus.
Oprah's Reflections on the Academy's Legacy
In a video shared by Oprah Daily, the 72-year-old media mogul expressed profound pride in the academy's achievements. “I am dazzled and in awe of them,” she said, referring to the thousands of alumnae who have gone on to succeed in diverse fields. “Spanning every area of the workforce, they are businesswomen and lawyers, mothers, doctors, digital content creators, artists, managers, CEOs.” Since its founding, OWLAG has graduated more than 500 girls, many of whom have become leaders in their communities and professions.
Winfrey confirmed that her foundational mission remains unchanged. “To help young women discover their own power, transform their own lives, and in doing so, transform the future of South Africa,” she stated. “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.”
Future Commitment to Education
Winfrey assured stakeholders that her dedication to South African girls' education is not ending but evolving. “That promise doesn't end here,” she said. “It just keeps growing.” The new scholarship initiative will effectively double the number of girls supported compared to the single-academy model, according to her representative.
The closure timeline provides a three-year phase-out period, ensuring that all current students can complete their studies at OWLAG or transition smoothly to other institutions. The Gauteng Department of Education will incorporate the campus into its network of public schools, continuing to serve local students. Winfrey's ongoing involvement through scholarships ensures that her legacy of empowering young women will persist and expand.
