The Gauteng Department of Education has committed to preserving and advancing the legacy of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG).
The department will take ownership of the school following the announcement that it will close after the 2027 academic year.
Since opening its doors in 2007, the school, founded by US media mogul and author Oprah Winfrey, has empowered more than 1,000 young girls from disadvantaged communities by providing access to quality education.
Winfrey said OWLAG had achieved the vision for which it was established more than two decades ago – to empower and uplift young women through education.
“The dream was never to simply build a school. 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,” Winfrey said.
Meanwhile, Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile said the department was committed to preserving the Academy’s legacy while taking it to even greater heights.
“The legacy of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls reminds us that the advancement of women is fundamental to the advancement of society itself.
“The Gauteng Department of Education is committed to preserving and advancing the Academy’s legacy of academic excellence, ethical leadership and educational opportunity. We will ensure that this exceptional institution continues to serve the people of Gauteng while honouring the vision upon which it was established.
“The department will continue to safeguard this legacy so that future generations of learners benefit from an institution synonymous with excellence, discipline, innovation and leadership,” Maile said.
The department confirmed that the residential campus will be transferred to the Gauteng Department of Education following the completion of the 2027 academic year.
It also welcomed the assurance that every learner currently enrolled at the Academy will complete her education with uninterrupted academic, financial and personal support.
Administrative processes relating to the transition are under way and will continue over the coming months.
