Oprah Winfrey will bring to an end one of her biggest education projects in South Africa next year, with the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls set to close after nearly two decades of nurturing young women from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The US media personality announced that the boarding school, located near Johannesburg, will officially close at the end of the 2027 academic year. In line with the agreement made when the academy was established, the campus will then be handed over to South African education authorities.
The foundation said students who will still be pursuing their studies when the school closes will not be affected, as they will receive full scholarships to continue their education at other institutions.
The academy was launched after Winfrey met South Africa's anti-apartheid leader and former President Nelson Mandela in 2002. Since opening in 2007, the school has educated girls from underprivileged communities, with more than 1,000 students graduating over the years.
Built at a cost of $40 million (£20 million), the boarding school is located in Henley-on-Klip, south of Johannesburg. While it earned praise for providing quality education, the academy also faced criticism and controversy during its history.
Its planned closure has sparked speculation online, with some suggesting it was linked to poor management. However, a public relations consultant working for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation dismissed the claims, saying the decision was not connected to mismanagement.
Instead of running the boarding school, the foundation said it will continue supporting education by expanding a scholarship programme that will enable academically talented girls from communities across South Africa to study at leading schools.
"The dream was never simply to build a school," Winfrey, 72, explained in a statement.
"It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission doesn't end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education.
"I'm excited that this next chapter will allow us to reach even more young women across South Africa and continue the promise that began more than 20 years ago."
Authorities have not announced what the campus will be used for once it is transferred to the Gauteng provincial government. However, the province's education department said it intends to ensure the institution continues serving the public.
"We will ensure that this exceptional institution continues to serve the people of Gauteng while honouring the vision upon which it was established," it said.
When the academy first opened its doors in 2007, some critics questioned the investment in the school's facilities, which reportedly included two theatres, a yoga studio and a beauty salon. They argued that the money could have supported a larger number of students across the country.
The school also faced controversy only months after opening when some students accused a former staff member of abuse. The staff member was later cleared of all charges.
There are currently 281 students enrolled at the academy.
According to Oprah Daily, many former students have gone on to build successful careers as doctors, lawyers, engineers, artists, executives and entrepreneurs.
One of the graduates, Andronica Klaas from the class of 2012, who is now a senior engineering lead at Meta, reflected on her experience at the academy.
"Every corner of the campus was filled with so much love and care and detail.
"OWLAG convinced me that preparation, character and purpose mattered more than where I came from."