The inquiry of 2010 Census
The form has nine pages with 48 questions, divided into seven topics.
The first topic refers to each family aggregate – who lives in the house and what is the relation between the persons. Even when there isn’t any family connection, the information should be given, “for example: if they have a tourist or a visit in their house, this person is also registered, because the Census isn’t only for the Timorese but for all the persons in Timor-Leste, Timorese and foreigners”, explains the Minister of Finance.
The form’s second topic is about the qualifications, or, in other words, the intention is to know the school qualifications of each person in the house.
The third topic refers to work –every person with more than 10 years of age will be asked of his/her occupation, if they work and where.
Topic number four intends to assess about fertility and maternal-child mortality, and therefore, directed at women more than 15 years old.
It is followed by a section dedicated to the household, where the questions are about physical aspects of the house and family property. It is intended to know, inclusively, which objects are owned by the family (such as radio, television, fridge, car, tractor – in this case it is asked if it belongs to the family or the State – animals, among others).
Topic number six is about mortality. It is intended to know about the number of persons that died last year: how many persons, which persons and what was their age when they past away. The objective of this section is to calculate the mortality percentage in Timor-Leste.
The last topic is dedicated to emigration. It is intended to know, in each family, if there are persons who went overseas, if it was temporary or permanent, and what was the motive (to work, to study, …)
The collected information will be converted into statistical data, after being revised and treated by the National Directorate for Statistic (NDS). A very useful tool, according to the Minister Emília Pires: “The Census will hep us. To us who make policies for the nation and any agency who wants to carry out programs to benefit the nation. With this data it will be possible to do programs that move towards the needs of the population”.
For more information’s, you can ear the Minister of Finance interview to the “Good bye Conflict, Welcome Development” program in Radio Timor-Leste, frequency 91.7 FM – in Portuguese, Saturday, July 10 at 7.30pm.
