South Africa: Oprah opens exclusive schools for girls

On Tuesday 2nd January, African American talk show host and business woman, Oprah Winfrey opened a new school in South Africa that she has personally funded to the tune of $40m. The school located south of Johannesburg initially accommodates 150 girls and will eventually increase to provide places for 450 girls from low income families. Ms Winfrey is reported to have interviewed some 3,500 prospective students who had applied for entry into her exclusive Leadership Academy. Oprah stated "When I look at these girls, I see me. That's why I want to give them everything I didn't have growing up. These are the leaders of tomorrow's Africa." The Leadership Academy is made up of 28 buildings set on a 50 acre site, with well equipped classrooms and laboratories.

In March Oprah opened a second school in the town of Kokstad in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, South African. The Seven Fountains School is funded by Oprah’s Angel Network and cost $1.6 million. In addition to its 25 classrooms, the school also has a library, computer centre and two sports fields. Eleven-year-old Nduli Amahle who attended the school before it was transformed by Oprah said; “I want to thank Oprah for giving us this school. It is going to change my life and help me become a doctor”.

Oprah’s endeavours have not been free from criticism. Parents have criticised Ms Winfrey’s school rules for being too strict as the number of family visits are limited to one per month and there is also a ban on edible gifts. The schools have also been labelled elitist and culturally insensitive. International charity, ActionAid said that the huge sum of money spent on the schools for a few hundred children could have been spent improving the quality of education for more children.