Latest news with #Assessment
SBS Australia
7 days ago
- General
- SBS Australia
Duck herder turned Educator: A Filipino's journey to becoming a University Professor in Australia
Dennis Alonzo is an Associate Professor of Assessment, Curriculum, and Teacher Education at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. He hails from South Cotabato and was a proud scholar of MSU-IIT in Iligan City and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the Philippines during his college years. He also led the establishment of the Asia Pacific Assessment and Curriculum Studies—an initiative aimed at improving teaching methods, assessment practices, and advancing inclusive learning across schools and universities in the Asia-Pacific region. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST SBS Filipino 14:09 Filipino Dennis Alonzo is a respected Associate Professor of Assessment, Curriculum, and Teacher Education at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia—a role that reflects his passion for learning and dedication to shaping future educators. Credit: Dennis Alonzo/FB Once they finally settled in Australia, Dennis Alonzo took his mother on a trip to the popular tourist destination, the Sydney Opera House. Credit: Dennis Alonzo According to Vivian Alonzo-Francisco, she and her sibling are deeply grateful for the unwavering dedication of their uncle, now UNSW Sydney Associate Professor Dennis Alonzo. His support not only helped them finish their studies—it changed the course of their lives. Credit: Vivian Alonzo-Francisco UNSW Associate Professor Dennis Alonzo attended the college graduation of his niece, Vivian Francisco-Amada, in the Philippines. Credit Vivian Francisco-Amanda Vivian Alonzo-Francisco's graduation. Credit: Supplied UNSW Sydney Associate Professor Dennis Alonzo also helped some of his nieces and nephews finish their studies—among them, Janine Alonzo, now a teacher in Singapore, and her youngest sibling. His support opened doors and changed their future. Credit Vivian Alonzo-Francisco Janine Alonzo's university graduation was a proud moment shared with her family in the Philippines and her uncle, now UNSW Sydney Associate Professor Dennis Alonzo—whose support helped turn dreams into reality. Credit: Vivian Alonzo-Francisco 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino 📲 Catch up episodes and stories – Visit or stream on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Youtube Podcasts , and SBS Audio app.
Rhyl Journal
30-07-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
HMRC sending letters to 1.4 million Brits who need to pay up
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issues the routine letters every year to people who need to pay tax on their income that has not been taxed through Pay As You Earn (PAYE) or Self Assessment. The letters provide a detailed assessment of unpaid tax on income above the annual personal allowance and guidance on how customers can pay tax owed. Download the HMRC app to manage your money easily. When you're on it, you're on it. Download today. 👇 A Simple Assessment can be issued for a number of reasons, including where: If customers receive a letter either through the post or online in their Personal Tax Account, they can go to to find out more, check the assessment against their own records and pay any tax owed. The payment deadline is 31 January 2026, unless an alternative date is stated in the letter. Simple Assessment payments can be made in full, or in instalments before the deadline. Payments can be made using the free and secure HMRC app, online via by bank transfer or cheque. A full list of payment methods can be found on HMRC has produced a detailed guide to help pensioners understand their Simple Assessment. Simple Assessment letters are automatically generated and sent to customers when HMRC receives information from employers, Department for Work and Pensions, customers themselves and from banks, building societies and financial institutions that shows tax is due. Recommended reading: Anyone who believes an error has been made in the assessment should get in touch with HMRC within 60 days to query it. More information on how to contact HMRC is available on If HMRC agrees an assessment was incorrect, customers will be sent an updated letter with details of how to pay by the deadline. If HMRC believes the assessment was correct, customers can go to to appeal within 30 days of the date of the decision letter.
Leader Live
30-07-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
HMRC sending letters to 1.4 million Brits who need to pay up
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issues the routine letters every year to people who need to pay tax on their income that has not been taxed through Pay As You Earn (PAYE) or Self Assessment. The letters provide a detailed assessment of unpaid tax on income above the annual personal allowance and guidance on how customers can pay tax owed. Download the HMRC app to manage your money easily. When you're on it, you're on it. Download today. 👇 A Simple Assessment can be issued for a number of reasons, including where: If customers receive a letter either through the post or online in their Personal Tax Account, they can go to to find out more, check the assessment against their own records and pay any tax owed. The payment deadline is 31 January 2026, unless an alternative date is stated in the letter. Simple Assessment payments can be made in full, or in instalments before the deadline. Payments can be made using the free and secure HMRC app, online via by bank transfer or cheque. A full list of payment methods can be found on HMRC has produced a detailed guide to help pensioners understand their Simple Assessment. Simple Assessment letters are automatically generated and sent to customers when HMRC receives information from employers, Department for Work and Pensions, customers themselves and from banks, building societies and financial institutions that shows tax is due. Recommended reading: Anyone who believes an error has been made in the assessment should get in touch with HMRC within 60 days to query it. More information on how to contact HMRC is available on If HMRC agrees an assessment was incorrect, customers will be sent an updated letter with details of how to pay by the deadline. If HMRC believes the assessment was correct, customers can go to to appeal within 30 days of the date of the decision letter.
South Wales Guardian
30-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
HMRC sending letters to 1.4 million Brits who need to pay up
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issues the routine letters every year to people who need to pay tax on their income that has not been taxed through Pay As You Earn (PAYE) or Self Assessment. The letters provide a detailed assessment of unpaid tax on income above the annual personal allowance and guidance on how customers can pay tax owed. Download the HMRC app to manage your money easily. When you're on it, you're on it. Download today. 👇 A Simple Assessment can be issued for a number of reasons, including where: If customers receive a letter either through the post or online in their Personal Tax Account, they can go to to find out more, check the assessment against their own records and pay any tax owed. The payment deadline is 31 January 2026, unless an alternative date is stated in the letter. Simple Assessment payments can be made in full, or in instalments before the deadline. Payments can be made using the free and secure HMRC app, online via by bank transfer or cheque. A full list of payment methods can be found on HMRC has produced a detailed guide to help pensioners understand their Simple Assessment. Simple Assessment letters are automatically generated and sent to customers when HMRC receives information from employers, Department for Work and Pensions, customers themselves and from banks, building societies and financial institutions that shows tax is due. Recommended reading: Anyone who believes an error has been made in the assessment should get in touch with HMRC within 60 days to query it. More information on how to contact HMRC is available on If HMRC agrees an assessment was incorrect, customers will be sent an updated letter with details of how to pay by the deadline. If HMRC believes the assessment was correct, customers can go to to appeal within 30 days of the date of the decision letter.
The Spinoff
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Spinoff
‘So many issues' but ‘alright, I guess': What students actually think of NCEA
It turns out young people have opinions about things that affect them. Last week, we shared a Now You Know explainer video on the future of NCEA after prime minister Christopher Luxon announced it was getting a 'fundamental overhaul'. The Education Review Office thinks NCEA Level 1 'needs substantial reform' and parents are pressuring schools to ditch the qualification altogether. But what do the people actually doing NCEA think? They don't seem to be asked very often, so we took it to the comments section. Here's what we learned, in their own words. Comments have been lightly edited for clarity. Language classes are OK, except when people are using Google Translate to complete their internal assessments. Moved from the US 10th grade to year 12, so I have a somewhat wider perspective. In short, teaching and learning was minimal, while memorising and copy-pasting were rewarded. The standards for an Achieved are on the ground, while Excellence requires an insane amount of effort. At my school, English was not required past year 10 (still needed reading/writing credits though), and many kids didn't know how to write, some probably couldn't read, either. Music and languages in particular, I think, were alright. However, language courses could move a LOT faster (although the internal assessments were pointless as most students could Google Translate their work). It's great that NCEA gives students choice about their subjects and assessments but that is about the only good thing I can say about it. / Student who finished NCEA in 2023 A key theme was that not a single human soul in the comments understands what is going on with NCEA Level 1. And also, for the love of God, students want us to stop changing their assessment standards mid-year. I did the new Level 1 NCEA last year and there were so many issues since teachers didn't know what they were teaching. There are many things we didn't learn due to there not being enough time to learn everything in the curriculum, so going into Level 2 we have missed out on many things. With the new Level 1 system it was still changing throughout the year, and the way assignments were supposed to be marked was changing whilst doing them. It was not planned out well, and they had not finished the new system halfway through the year and were still altering it, making it even harder to manage. / NCEA Level 2 student Found last year was alright with credits but NO TEACHER KNEW WHAT THEY WERE TEACHING BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM CHANGE AND THE LACK OF RESOURCES GIVEN TO THEM! This year was alright, I guess. A lot of overload in a way: one class with three assessments for one thing I'm doing, and I'm finding it hard to get credits but I've passed (for now) all my assessments. / NCEA Level 2 student I think that lots of the new standards are repetitive and aren't actually clear on what is needed to achieve highly. For example, 1.2 English is basically a repeat of the CAAs [Common Assessment Activities] we have to sit, and it seems to me teachers haven't actually been able to give their own feedback on the course. It is also apparent there's a lack of communication from NZQA to teachers. I think there's also a bit of a disconnect between Level 1 and Level 2 which is going to stitch up my year group. / NCEA Level 1 student A lot of students told us that once you've passed NCEA Level 1, you are totally unprepared for Level 2, so good luck with that. Level 1 was fine, very easy and I only had three exams. But now the jump to Level 2 is huge, and I have 11 exams this year / NCEA Level 2 student I HATE level 2 😭✌️ / NCEA Level 2 student I took L1 [Level 1] last year and my chem teacher said the new Level 1 Labour introduced doesn't even align with Level 2 chem. She said once you hit Level 2, it's like restarting. / NCEA Level 2 student Some students think that NCEA has some redeeming qualities. It's going great right now in the first year of NCEA but if there were anything I would have to change, most likely the wording of the standards. Even one of my teachers said that it was 'pretty vague' / NCEA Level 1 student As someone currently doing Level 2, I don't have any major issues with NCEA. My main issue is that it doesn't necessarily feel like we want to do the assessments (whether because we're forced to write about specific subjects or are only assessed on subjects the teachers know well). Admittedly, getting students to be passionate about learning isn't easy. In conclusion, I think that the current use of NCEA is fine; however, in the future, we should find a way to move into a qualification system that is better suited to doing what the students want rather than what the teachers want. / NCEA Level 2 student Some people were just happy we showed an interest in what they had to say. I personally find it alright, but I know a lot of my friends are struggling. The system definitely needs change, and it's great to have someone actually care about our opinions for once. / NCEA Level 2 student
