Friday 26 / July / 2024
Muscat: The E-Census Record of Population, Housing, and Establishments 2020 has been exhibited at the National Museum.
"The National Museum, in cooperation with the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), is privileged to exhibit the E-Census Record of Population, Housing, and Establishments 2020 with the signature of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and the first recorded census of 1993 showing the name of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said as the first citizen whose data was recorded in the census," the National Museum said in a statement. The National Museum in cooperation with the National Centre of Statistics and Information is exhibited the 2020 e-Census Record of Population, Housing, and Establishments, with the signature of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik and first recorded census of 1993 showing the name of the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimour as the first citizen whose data were taken in the census.
The displayed Census Record of Population and Housing is the first recorded census of the General Census of Population, Housing and Facilities in the year 1414 AH/1993 CE. It was implemented by the General Secretariat of the Development Council, as the first official census to be conducted in the Sultanate of Oman, showing the name of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said as the first citizen whose data are taken in the census, and one of the most important data in the register and handwritten:
Full name and tribe: Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimour Al-Busaidi. Age: 53 years. Street: Sohar City, Way: Bahjat al-Andhar
This came in implementation of Royal Decree No (87/88) issuing the Statistical Law, and Royal Decree No (50/91) conducting the comprehensive census of population, housing and establishments, where its procedures were completed and the actual count began in 1993 (Fourth Five-Year Plan).
From the initials, the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said insisted on the importance of the census in his Royal speech on 30th November 1993 on the occasion of starting the census; “The deluxe version the results of the electronic census of population, housing and establishments (1441 AH / 2020 CE), were approved by His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik on 14th December 2020 during a meeting of His Majesty (may God protect him) with the Minister of Interior and the Chairman of the Supreme National Census Committee at Al Baraka Palace.
His Majesty the Sultan also voiced his appreciation for the Supreme National Committee of Electronic Census 2020 and its sub-committees which, he said, exerted great efforts to make the project a success. He also appreciated all government and private establishments, and citizens and residents, for their cooperation and positive response to the census exercise.
The latest census is the fourth of its kind in the Sultanate. It was characterised by the use of modern electronic methods and technologies in accordance with critical international standards and frameworks. The census reflects positively on all scopes of sustainable development as an effective decision-making tool, and contributes to the overall planning of the Sultanate to achieve the national aims and priorities in accordance with Oman's Vision 2040.
Jamal bin Hassan Al-Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, said: "It is a great honour that the National Museum exhibits the first Census Record that has the name of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, as well as the deluxe version of the Records of the last electronic census that His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik approved it. His Majesty’s signature appears on its facade. The showcase of the two records came in the context of the cooperation between the National Museum and the National Centre for Statistics and Information, and an affirmation of the importance of the census, as it is a promising project that has always paved the way for plans and national strategies that serve visions and ambitions for a better future.
Dr.Khalifa bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Barwani, CEO of the National Centre for Statistics and Information, explained that the Sultanate carried out in its history four general censuses of population, housing and establishments, which played a major role in providing five-year plans, future visions and decision makers with correct and accurate data.
In the 1993 census, which was the first census in the history of the Sultanate, as a huge statistical process, it relied on the paper form that was designed based on the data requirements of government institutions.
While for the second census, which was carried out in 2003, it was distinguished by the use of hand-held devices for the first time in the census worldwide, as their use was limited to the Governorate of Muscat, while the paper form was used in the rest of the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. In the third census, which was carried out in 2010, the Sultanate of Oman introduced the self-enumeration process by designing an electronic form on the Internet and filling it out by individuals who want to use this method. A call and quality control centre was also established at the counting stage with the aim of reaching the highest level of accuracy and comprehensiveness, by dealing with the data of families and individuals during the accounting stage, and in conjunction with the process of data collection in the field in which tablets were used.
He pointed out that the Sultanate presented in the electronic census of population, housing and establishments of 2020 a pioneering model at the regional and international levels in the experience of moving from traditional censuses to administrative records within a short period. The results were approved and published in less than 48 hours from the reference date, which was determined on 12 December 2020. In addition, all data related to population, housing and establishments were assigned on this date.
He indicated that despite the outbreak of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in the world in 2020 and its social and economic effects that lead countries to postpone their censuses, the Sultanate implemented it according to the prepared programme. As a result, the international and regional organisations concerned with the statistical field praised the statistical office in the Sultanate for its success in implementing the electronic census of 2020. That lead the Sultanate of Oman to become an international house of expertise.
He also explained that the 2020 census was distinguished by linking data electronically between various government and private agencies, directly and in real time, from the national administrative records, which is technically known as the “registered census.”
He concluded his speech by saying: "The electronic census 2020 has created a large and sustainable central statistical data system that links the various databases in government and private sectors, which will enable the implementation of a census of the population, housing and facilities any time, with aleast human effort and at a limited financial cost.
The National Museum is the Oman’s flagship cultural institution, showcasing the Sultanate’s cultural heritage from the earliest evidence of human settlement in the Omani Peninsula to present day through which we look forward to our promising future. The Museum was established by Royal Decree 62/2013, issued on 16 Muharram 1435 AH (corresponding to 20 November 2013 CE), as a legal entity with financial and administrative independence and the capacity to own, manage and dispose of tangible and intangible assets of Oman`s cultural heritage; In line with internationally recognized experiences and standards in classifying ancient museums.
The Museum aims to achieve its educational, cultural and humanitarian mission, by consolidating noble Omani values, activating belonging, and raising public awareness among citizens, residents and visitors, for Oman, its history, heritage and culture, and by developing their creative and intellectual abilities, especially In the areas of preserving evidence, collectibles, and highlighting the cultural dimensions of Oman; By employing and adopting the best practices and standards in the fields of museum sciences.
