PRESS RELEASE
21st February 2011
2011 CENSUS – HELP TOMORROW TAKE SHAPE
Census Office Teams Up With the School Children of Northern Ireland
The 2011 Census is all about helping tomorrow take shape. Launching the Census
today, Registrar General Norman Caven said: “The Census will be held on Sunday
27 March.
On that day everyone will be asked to complete a census
questionnaire to provide an accurate picture of Northern Ireland’s population.
“Knowing how many people live in Northern Ireland allows us to work out the
types of services they will need in the future. The information gathered by the
census will be used by government to help plan important services such as
houses, schools, and roads.”
Dr Caven also referred to the innovative Census for Schools programme. “The
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), the organisation in
charge of the census, has teamed up with the people who will help tomorrow
take shape: the school children of Northern Ireland.
“The Census for Schools programme, aims to get students involved with the
census and educate them about its history and the positive effects it will have
on their communities.”
Census for Schools is a partnership run by the Council for the Curriculum
Examinations & Assessment (CCEA) in conjunction with NISRA.
Emphasising the value of the census, Dr Caven added: “It is important that
everyone takes part in the census and completes the questionnaire as required
by law. A questionnaire will be delivered to every house in the middle of March
and can be completed online or posted back.
“We have developed a questionnaire that will be easy to complete. Most of the
questions can be answered by simply ticking a box. It takes about ten minutes
to complete per person but the results will inform policy and determine
resources for the next decade.
“For anyone having difficulties, help will be available through a dedicated
website and a telephone helpline. Census staff will also provide assistance if
required.”
Robert Beatty, responsible for managing the census, commented: “The Census for
Schools programme is an important part of our community engagement work.
It gives students a real insight into how the 2011 Census statistics can have a
positive effect on their communities. As children grow up, they will live in a
world that the 2011 Census has helped to shape.”
Richard Hanna, Director of Education Strategy at CCEA said: “We have been
working closely with NISRA to develop resources which encourage young
students to get involved with the census and apply their learning to real life
situations. Using the census as a learning theme offers many ways to teach
students about numeracy, literacy and other cross curricular skills. It also
encourages a greater awareness of the upcoming census.
“We live in a changing world and it is important that areas of learning are
engaging and relevant to individuals, our society and our economy. That is
why the NI Curriculum has a strong focus on preparing young people for future
life and work by developing essential skills and knowledge. The census
certainly plays a key role in that future.”
To find out more about the Census at School programme log on to
www.nicurriculum.org.uk.
For further information on the 2011 Census log on to
www.census.gov.uk/ni or www.nidirect.gov.uk/census.
Ends
Notes for Editors
1. The information and activities in the Census for Schools resources are suitable for
pupils at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3. There are six learning opportunities for each
Key Stage, providing materials and ideas to deliver a complete series of lessons on
census-related themes. For example, students could explore Northern Ireland life in
1911, using websites to research industries, social life and social conditions and
prepare a report about how life was in 2011
2. For media enquires relating to this release please contact Claire McCormick or
Lyndsey McBride at Navigator Blue on +44 (0) 2890 246 722
3. For media enquires relating to NISRA please contact Jim Hamilton at NISRA press
office on 028 9034 8180