Dr. Amara Satharasinghe Department of Census & Statistics Sri Lanka
Overview Decision Making Process for Adoption History of taking Population and Housing Census Data Capturing prior to 2011 Data Capturing in 2012 census: Use of scanning technology Experience in using CAPI Making decisions on Using ICT tools in 2021 census Identification of method: CAPI, Web based etc. Obtaining large number of hardware units Use of units after the census Timing of data collection Structure of questionnaire Who take the decisions? Ultimate Goal
History of taking Population and Housing Censuses The first Census of Population and Housing was taken in 1871 in Sri Lanka Census has been conducted at 10 year intervals The last census which was the 14 th in the series, was conducted in 2012 Until 2001 round de-facto method was used In 2012 round de-jure method was used
Data Capturing prior to 2011 From 1871 to 2001 Enumeration method: De-facto Data entry: Manual Editing: Manual
Data Capturing prior to 2012 round: Scanning Census 2012 adopted image based form processing technology such as OMR/ICR through scanning the questionnaire e-census technology was introduced for the first time on experimental basis
Data Capturing prior to 2012 round: Scanning DCS used the scanning technology to process the paper questionnaires Challenges in Scanning technology Had to outsource 24-hr working in two shifts Special scanner paper & printing Storing questionnaires under AC environment Incorrect data due to shifting of images
Data Capturing prior to 2012 round: e-census First time in the history of census Experimental basis Only selected household participated Obtained a security certificate from Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT/CC) To ensure that it is secure to handle such information Encrypted communication and secure identification
Experience in using CAPI Demographic and Health Survey 2016 Used CAPI technology Technical and Financial assistances by World Bank Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey - 2016 Used CAPI Technical and financial Assistances: KOSTAT Agricultural Household Survey 2017/18 CAPI being used Technical and Financial assistances - ADB
Making decisions on Using ICT tools in 2021 census Identification of method: CAPI, Web based etc Working committee Steering Committee ICT division of the DCS Recommendation from the government Apex body on ICT: ICTA Other stake holders
Making decisions on Using ICT tools in 2021 census Obtaining large number of hardware units Source of funding What to do after census with these units Use for other censuses and surveys conducted by the NSO Strengthening the government data collection mechanism Maintenance Safety
Making decisions on Using ICT tools in 2021 census Obtaining large number of hardware units Source of funding What to do after census with these units Use for other censuses and surveys conducted by the NSO Strengthening the government data collection mechanism Maintenance Safety
Making decisions on Using ICT tools in 2021 census Timing of data collection If cannot obtain all required number of hardware units (Tablet computers) Limit the number by combining census blocks Serve a brief questionnaire (on information likely to be varied) to house hold to record information with respect to the census moment Enter this information when the enumerator visit the household and collect other information
Making decisions on Using ICT tools in 2021 census Structure of questionnaire User friendliness Colorful display on the tab Can we increase number of modules and questions
Ultimate Goal Time taken between completion of field work and release of final report should be minimized Still we have a few years. Can we do all our best to make sure within a few hours/days after completion of enumeration of the last household at least a few key indicators of the census are released!!!!!!!!!!