ADDIS ABABA – The Ethiopian Central National Statistics Agency said that utilizing modern census technology yields greater strides with regard to conducting fair, credible count and making the whole operation effective.
The fourth National Housing and Population Census which is set to be conducted from April, 7-28, 2019 would be assisted by the first ever digital technology which includes the use of mobile tablets for data collection. Agency’s Population Department Acting Director Tiruzer Tenagne said that the fourth National Housing and Population Census is unique from the three censuses conducted in earlier years in the country in multiple ways.
According to her, the availability of necessary technological equipment [use of tablets, Global Positioning System, (GPS), and other high-tech equipments] make the Census unique. Deploying these technologies enable to get reliable and quality data. Mentioning that in the past three censuses the country conducted paperbased counts, Tiruzer stressed that the application of digital technology would enable it to carry out effective census within a short period of time.
Furthermore, because it allows sending the information immediately to the Agency on a daily basis, it would avert the possibility of losing some facts and reduce census costs. The Agency has also planned to work with Ethio-Telecom and Information Network Security Agency (INSA) to tackle issues related to cyber attacking by creating unique internet network line, she explained.
As to her, all the variables that are crucial to have reliable information are included in the questionnaires in a manner aligned with international standards and taking into account the existing situation of the country. “A National Census Commission, which facilitates, leads the census process and solves every challenge that may encounter during the count, is established.
The Commission comprises nine ministers, Speaker of the House of Federation, among others” Unlike the previous censuses, this one will be carried out across the country, in rural, urban and pastoralist areas in similar duration of time and it helps to grab the attention of all concerned bodies to the census.
She added that to develop the skill of polltakers and supervisors, the Agency has offered capacity building trainings, Tiruzer remarked. Ethiopia has so far conducted 3 Population and Housing Censuses (PHC) in 1984, 1994, and 2007.
The Ethiopian Herald, February 27/2019
BY TAMERU REGASA
