Oprah Winfrey says her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa will close in 2027, two decades after she opened the school for girls in grades eight through 12 in 2007, according to E! News.
After the 2027 academic year ends, the campus is expected to be returned to South Africa’s Gauteng Department of Education, in line with the original partnership agreement, according to Oprah Daily. Students already enrolled will be able to complete their schooling without losing financial support.
Winfrey’s representative told People that she will continue backing education through a new scholarship program that will begin after the academy’s students graduate. The rep said the model is intended to double the number of girls who can benefit from the program.
In a video shared by Oprah Daily, Winfrey said the school has been deeply rewarding to watch over the years, noting that its graduates have gone into fields including business, law, medicine, the arts, and leadership roles. She said the new program will help extend the mission even further across South Africa.
