Oprah Winfrey will shut down her South Africa girls' school and increase scholarship opportunities.

Oprah Winfrey has announced that her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls will be closing after the 2027 academic year. This marks the end of the residential school model that she established nearly twenty years ago. However, it will be replaced by a new and expanded scholarship program that is expected to reach a greater number of young women across South Africa, according to People magazine.

The academy will continue to operate for the next two academic years, graduating its final two classes. After that, the responsibility for the campus will be taken over by the Gauteng provincial government, which will turn it into a public school. Winfrey's spokesperson has stated that any students who have not completed their education by the transition will still receive full tuition funding from Winfrey until their graduation, and they will be able to attend other top-tier schools.

Winfrey herself released a statement regarding the transition, saying, "The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women." She explained that while the current chapter of the academy is coming to a close, its mission will continue through a broader effort to expand access to education. The scholarship program will begin after the academy's current students have graduated.

According to the spokesperson, this new model is expected to provide educational opportunities for approximately twice as many girls as the academy currently serves. Winfrey opened the academy in 2007 with the goal of providing educational opportunities for academically gifted girls from underserved communities in South Africa. Since then, over 1,000 students have graduated from the institution.

The school received widespread attention shortly after its opening when a former staff member was accused of abusing students. Although the employee was later acquitted, the academy continued to serve young women while also achieving academic success and developing strong leaders. Winfrey has invested a significant amount of money in the school over the years.

According to a study conducted by the academy, almost all surveyed graduates went on to pursue higher education, and they reported that their education had a positive impact on their families and future careers. In a recent interview with People magazine, Winfrey shared her reasoning for the transition, stating that she wants to expand her education initiative beyond a single campus and invest in even more students across the country. She said, "This school is my greatest legacy.

These girls are my deepest, greatest joy." This decision comes on the heels of Winfrey's multiyear deal with Amazon, further solidifying her commitment to education and making a positive impact in the lives of young women.