The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has welcomed the next chapter of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG), saying its transition to a national scholarship programme will extend educational opportunities to more academically gifted young women across South Africa.
GDE MEC Lebogang Maile said the academy has, for nearly two decades, demonstrated the life changing impact of investing in girls’ education and leadership.
Established by media icon Oprah Winfrey, the academy opened in 2007 and has educated more than 1,000 academically gifted learners from disadvantaged communities. It has become known for its commitment to academic excellence, ethical leadership and the holistic development of young women.
Maile praised Winfrey for her vision and long standing commitment to empowering South Africa’s young women through education.
“Through this Academy, she has not merely built a school, she has nurtured leaders, expanded opportunities, restored hope and transformed lives. The impact of this investment will continue to resonate across generations and across our nation,” he said.
Winfrey recently announced that the academy will transition into an expanded national scholarship programme, a move that will enable more talented young women from across the country to access quality educational opportunities. Maile said the decision reflects the continued growth of the academy’s founding vision.
“The Academy’s transition to an expanded national scholarship programme reflects a bold and inspiring continuation of that vision. By extending educational opportunities to academically talented young women across South Africa, Ms Winfrey has ensured that her investment in girls’ education will reach even more communities while preserving the enduring legacy of the Academy,” he said.
In terms of the original partnership agreement, the academy’s residential campus will be transferred to the Gauteng Department of Education after the 2027 academic year. The department said administrative processes are already under way to ensure a smooth and responsible handover of the facilities.
Maile said the department is committed to preserving the institution’s reputation for academic excellence and leadership.
“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,” he said.
The department also welcomed the assurance that every learner currently enrolled at the academy will complete her education without interruption, with academic, financial and personal support remaining in place until graduation.
Maile said Winfrey’s contribution to education has created opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom, strengthening families, communities and the country’s future.
He said the academy’s legacy would continue to inspire generations of young women and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to ensuring that its values of excellence, leadership and opportunity remain at the heart of the institution.
