Oprah school expels top pupil
2008-04-11 09:34
Sonja van Buul
Henley on Klip - The hopes and dreams of a girl who was "given the chance of a lifetime" at Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley on Klip, were shattered last week when she heard whilst lying in hospital that she had been expelled.
The 13-year-old girl apparently suffered a nervous breakdown weeks after her arrival at the talk-show host's school because she was believed to be struggling to meet the high requirements set by this unique school environment.
She allegedly began to display behavioural problems and to cut herself, but the real reason for her expulsion is not known.
According to a family friend, whose name could not be made known in order to protect the identity of the under-aged child, the girl had been receiving psychiatric treatment for the past eight weeks at the Tara Hospital in Sandton.
No reason given
The school initially sent her to the Tara Hospital for evaluation.
According to Beeld, the girl had been a top achiever at her previous school in the countryside. During her stay in hospital it was also discovered that she was suffering from epilepsy.
It is expected that she will shortly be discharged from hospital and return home.
The public relations company acting on behalf of the school would not comment and only issued a statement made by the school's spokesperson, Lisa Halliday.
"The allegations cannot be confirmed or rejected," Halliday said in the statement.
"Our first objective is to protect the privacy and dignity of our learners."
The statement went on to say that it was school policy not to disclose any personal information regarding any of their learners.
Halliday also did not want to mention the reason for the girl's expulsion.
- Beeld