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Oprah builds school in S Africa Oprah opens school in S Africa
(about 3 hours later)
TV host Oprah Winfrey is due to open a new school she has funded in South Africa to give an education to girls from poor families. TV host Oprah Winfrey has opened a new school she has funded in South Africa to give an education to girls from poor families.
The school - in the small town of Henley-on-Klip south of Johannesburg - cost $40m (£20m) to build.The school - in the small town of Henley-on-Klip south of Johannesburg - cost $40m (£20m) to build.
Ms Winfrey herself interviewed many of the 3,500 South African girls from low income families who applied for an initial 150 places at the school.Ms Winfrey herself interviewed many of the 3,500 South African girls from low income families who applied for an initial 150 places at the school.
Educational standards in South Africa have been falling, correspondents say. The academy selects girls whose family income is less than $700 a month.
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy will eventually cater for 450 girls who show outstanding promise but whose families cannot support their education.The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy will eventually cater for 450 girls who show outstanding promise but whose families cannot support their education.
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The school incorporates 28 buildings, across a 20 hectare (50 acre) site, with hi-tech classrooms, computers and science laboratories.The school incorporates 28 buildings, across a 20 hectare (50 acre) site, with hi-tech classrooms, computers and science laboratories.
Ms Winfrey had promised to build the school six years ago, while visiting South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela.Ms Winfrey had promised to build the school six years ago, while visiting South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela.
"When I first started making a lot of money, I really became frustrated with the fact that all I did was write cheque after cheque to this or that charity without really feeling like it was a part of me," she told America's Newsweek magazine."When I first started making a lot of money, I really became frustrated with the fact that all I did was write cheque after cheque to this or that charity without really feeling like it was a part of me," she told America's Newsweek magazine.
"At a certain point, you want to feel that connection," she added."At a certain point, you want to feel that connection," she added.
The girls who have been accepted come from families whose income is less than $700 (£350) a month.
Winfrey, whose own background was disadvantaged, says she regards education as the door to freedom and she hopes these girls will be among South Africa's future leaders.Winfrey, whose own background was disadvantaged, says she regards education as the door to freedom and she hopes these girls will be among South Africa's future leaders.
The BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says that nearly all South African children now enjoy some form of schooling, but there is concern about the standard of education in some quarters.
It is reported that around half of all university under-graduates fail to complete their courses, and a serious skills shortage in the country continues to hold back the growth of the economy.