Oprah Winfrey to Close South Africa School for Girls, Transition to Scholarship Program
Oprah Winfrey has announced the closure of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa at the end of the 2027 academic year. The school, which opened nearly 20 years ago, will be handed over to local education authorities as per the original agreement. The academy, located near Johannesburg, was established to provide educational opportunities to underprivileged girls and was inspired by Winfrey's meeting with Nelson Mandela in 2002. Since its inception, over 1,000 girls have graduated from the institution. Despite rumors of mismanagement, a PR consultant for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation has denied these claims, stating that the closure is part of a planned transition. Winfrey plans to continue her educational initiatives by funding scholarships for academically talented girls to attend leading schools across South Africa. 
