SMILE

S.M.I.L.E. (St Mary’s Interactive Learning Experience) is a national Community based education organisation, NGO, Section 21 Company, Public Benefit Organisation (PBO), and registered with the EDTP Seta, working in partnership with Independent and Community schools throughout South Africa.

S.M.I.L.E's key focus is improvement in the quality of teaching and learning in English - Home and First Additional Language - as the core foundation for improved proficiency in all subjects of the GET and FET Phases of Education (Grade 4-12).

S.M.I.L.E. was initiated in June 1991 in response to an urgent need to develop English language skills of Grade 5 learners and improve English teaching skills of teachers. In 2015, the development of teachers, and of learners’ English language skills still remains the most critical issue.

To achieve this objective, S.M.I.L.E. provides:

* hands on Teacher Training and Support in Community Primary and High schools
* CAPS approved English Language Learning and Teaching Support Material i.e. Learners, Textbooks, Core Readers and Teacher Guides for daily English lessons from Grades 4 to 12.

In 2015 S.M.I.L.E. is working on a regular basis with 71 Community teachers in 43 Community Primary and High schools across four Provinces reaching 6912 learners through S.M.I.L.E.'s Classroom Teacher Training Programme and English Oral Conversation Skills Programme.