Oprah launches a revolutionary school for poor children

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Oprah Winfrey

United States talk show queen Oprah Winfrey launched a revolutionary school institution for poor children, in the remote town of Kokstad, eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

As students and teachers danced and sang they cried out: "Long live Oprah,'' in praise of her work and commitment to education.

Seven Fountains Primary School has been described as an innovative, environment-friendly institution. The school has 25 classrooms, a library, computer centre and two sports field.

It boasts a recycling system that harvests rain water and uses seesaws and merry-go-rounds to pump water.

The school also uses solar power and has landscaped gardens that supply vegetables for school meals.

Winfrey hopes the school will become a model for public education in South Africa.

But celebrations at the opening were overshadowed by media reports that suggested another school opened by Winfrey - an exclusive girls academy, was too strict.

Winfrey was quick to deny the claims, insisting she had the students best interests at heart:”The two parents who were in the paper said to me that they did say the school was strict but the school was also fair and it was necessary to be strict, and I said to the parents: “If you feel the school is too strict, you are welcome, I bless you in removing your child from the school, big school”, because my number one priority is the safety and well being of the students," Winfrey said.

The private girls' academy was funded by Oprah's Angel Network, a public charity that supports organisations and projects focused on education and literacy.

Winfrey first visited the school when it was located on a farm in the area in 2002, bearing gifts, clothing, books and teacher training materials.

She was impressed by the school's 1,000 eager pupils and dedicated staff and during a follow-up visit in 2003, Winfrey's Angel Network committed itself to building a new school.

But since it opened, some parents have complained to local media about rules limiting the number of visits each month to the 152 girls at the school and restricting their cell phone calls and consumption of junk food.

There have been other complaints about a lack of respect for African culture and tradition after one of the girls was allegedly refused permission to attend the funeral of a member of her extended family.

John Samuel, chief operating officer for the academy, said unhappy parents who had raised their concerns with Winfrey on the phone had been reassured.

The Seven Fountains Primary School is Winfrey's second education project in South Africa.