Why Oprah Winfrey is closing her South Africa girls' school after nearly 20 years and what happens to students next

After nearly 20 years of transforming the lives of young women in South Africa, Oprah Winfrey has announced that her acclaimed leadership academy for girls will close in its current form at the end of 2027.

The decision does not mark the end of her commitment to education. Instead, Oprah says the next chapter will focus on expanding scholarships so that more girls across South Africa can access quality education than ever before.

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Why is Oprah Winfrey closing her South Africa school?

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) will complete its final academic year in 2027 before its operations transition to South Africa's Gauteng provincial government, in line with the original partnership established when the school was created.

Rather than operating a single boarding school, Oprah plans to broaden her educational impact through an expanded scholarship program that will support academically talented girls from disadvantaged communities across the country. According to her representatives, the new model is expected to double the number of girls who receive educational opportunities through her initiative.

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Oprah says the mission is far from over

Announcing the change, Oprah emphasized that the academy was always intended to be more than just a campus. "The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women."

She added: "That mission doesn't end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education."

Oprah also said she is excited about the next phase because it will allow her organization to reach even more young women across South Africa.

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What will happen to current students?

Students currently enrolled at the academy will not be left without support. According to representatives for Oprah Winfrey, the school will graduate its final two classes before the transition. Any students who remain enrolled after that will continue their education at leading schools in South Africa, with their tuition fully funded through Oprah's education initiative until graduation.

Meanwhile, the Gauteng Department of Education will take over management of the campus and continue operating it as a school.

A school born from a promise

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls opened in 2007, several years after Oprah met former South African President Nelson Mandela, who encouraged her to help expand educational opportunities for disadvantaged girls.

Built with an investment reportedly worth around $40 million, the campus became known for its world-class facilities and leadership-focused education. Over the years, it educated girls from underserved communities, many of whom became the first in their families to attend university. There are currently 281 students enrolled at the school, according to reports.

The academy's lasting legacy

Since welcoming its first students, the academy has graduated more than 1,000 young women, with the overwhelming majority continuing into higher education. Studies cited by the school found that many graduates said their education had positively transformed not only their own lives but also those of their families.

Although the academy faced challenges during its early years, including a widely reported staff misconduct case, it went on to become one of Oprah's most meaningful philanthropic projects. In previous interviews, she described the school as her "greatest legacy."

A new chapter for girls' education

While the physical academy will no longer serve as the center of Oprah's education initiative after 2027, her investment in girls' education is continuing in a different form.

By shifting resources toward scholarships and educational partnerships, Oprah hopes to extend opportunities beyond a single campus and reach talented young women in communities across South Africa, ensuring the mission that began more than two decades ago continues for future generations.