New census learning pack « Scotland's Census: Shaping Our Future

10.09.2010 New census learning pack to assist people with literacy difficulties

A new educational learning pack uses the census - Scotland's biggest population survey - to encourage people with literacy difficulties and those learning the English language, to overcome any problems they face when filling in official forms.

Created by the Scottish Government and the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) the pack illustrates the importance of the census and its value to people throughout Scotland. The pack is a resource for teachers and tutors to use with groups of young people or adults who are keen to learn more about the national event, which takes place on Sunday 27 March next year.

As well as teaching people about the census - how it works, why it matters and what its information is used for - the pack (which emphasises the importance of literacy, numeracy and citizenship) - also offers advice on filling in the census questionnaire itself. It is a legal requirement for everyone in Scotland to be included in the census.

GROS Census Direct Peter Scrimgeour said:

"Using the census as an example, this educational pack shows how official forms can support people throughout Scotland and why they matter. The census is a major national event and by learning about it, people will be able to prepare for it and transfer their new skills to other forms.

"We are keen for English language and literacy teachers and tutors to try out the pack and offer their feedback so that it can be reviewed and refined ahead of census day next year.

"With an estimated one in five people across Scotland facing literacy difficulties it is important we do what we can to help householders and their families fulfil their legal duty to be included on a census questionnaire."

The learning pack - which launched at Glasgow University during an event following International Literacy Day 2010 (September 8) - was written (and quality checked) by experienced adult literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tutors and canbe downloaded form the Adult Literacies Online website.