Pope’s trip to Dubai for COP28 cancelled
Pope Francis will not attend the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai. He had intended to attend COP28 but has been afflicted by a flu-like condition and inflammation of the respiratory tract. Director of the Holy See Press Office Matteo Bruni said although the Pope’s general health has improved, doctors have advised the 87-year-old Pontiff not to travel. Bruni said the Pope had accepted the doctors’ request with great regret.
The Pope and the Holy See remain willing to be part of the discussions taking place over the next few days, Bruni said.
NAPLAN has a covert influence on teaching and learning
Australia’s National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) has strayed from its original purpose by insidiously infiltrating everyday teaching and learning practices, according to Australian Catholic University (ACU) research.
While initially intended to identify students below minimum standards for literacy and numeracy and to target funding based on need, the research found this social justice and equity position has instead been overshadowed by NAPLAN’s covert impact on school decisions and classroom practices.
Lead researcher Dr Rafaan Daliri-Ngametua, of ACU’s School of Education, said the high-stakes test had become so embedded in teaching and learning programs and school-level decision making, it was difficult to distinguish between teaching work and NAPLAN-oriented teaching work.
More assessments available from ACARA
From 2024, Australian schools can opt-in Year 6 and Year 10 students to take part in National Assessment Program (NAP) assessments in key curriculum areas. Participation in NAP sample assessments is still required by those schools selected as sample schools.
These new optional assessments will be phased in over three years, starting with science literacy in 2024, with civics and citizenship added in 2025, followed by ICT literacy in 2026.
From 2026, NAP Opt-in assessments in all three domains will be available each year.
More information for schools is
available here.
Senate Inquiry to Report on Australia’s Disruptive Classrooms
The Australian Senate inquiry into ‘increasing disruptions in Australian classrooms’ will be released next week. Last year, OECD data confirmed that Australian classrooms rank among some of the most disruptive in the world, prompting the inquiry to be launched. The report was originally due in July, but that date has been extended twice since then and will now be released on 6 December.
Calls for government to rule out international student tax
The Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) is calling on the Australian Government to unambiguously rule out an international student tax. The idea of a tax on international students is a policy option raised in the Australian University Accord Interim Report, with the final report to be presented to the Australian government in the coming weeks.
Brush up on your maths teaching
The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) has produced a series of six primary mathematics webinars focusing on effective mathematics teaching. This series is designed to be used by the leaders of primary schools to help improve mathematics teaching and learning.
Turn your mobile phone into a life saver
The Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation says the fear of not knowing what to say or being frightened of saying the wrong thing is a common barrier in the fight against suicide.
A new free app ‘Prevent a suicide: what to say’, is a bank of medically approved text messages which family and friends can download send to a suicidal person as texts or WhatsApp appropriate messages.
Link to App store for free ‘Prevent a suicide: what to say’
Link to Google Play for ‘Prevent a suicide: what to say’
Calls for last PNG refugees to be transferred to Australia
More than 500 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals and more than 300 religious leaders and people of faith this week presented two open letters to the Australian government.
The letters call for the immediate transfer to Australia of more than 60 refugees and people seeking asylum still in Papua New Guinea. Signatories to the letters include Bishop Mark Short (Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn) and Bishop Vincent Long (Catholic Diocese of Parramatta).
New research reveals how babies and toddlers are targeted with unhealthy foods
Research, published by the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, has prompted health experts to call for regulation of on-pack labelling and promotional techniques used on baby and toddler food. Lead author and VicHealth postdoctoral researcher, Dr Alexandra Chung, says the food industry deliberately uses child-targeted marketing techniques alongside deceptive messaging aimed at parents.