GSS extends deadline for recruiting census trainers

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has extended the deadline for prospective applicants to submit their applications for the Pre-Certification Training Programme of Trainers for Censuses.

The training programme will equip participants with the tools to effectively communicate key concepts to other trainers and to enumerators as well as build capacity in important areas such as presentation skills, classroom management, and leadership.

Applications are being accepted until  September 30, 2020, for National Trainers and  October 30, 2020, for Regional Trainers.

The upcoming Population and Housing Census will be used to launch the maiden programme for the pre-certification of trainers for data collection in Ghana to qualify them as trainers for the upcoming Population and Housing Census and future censuses.

The pre-certification of trainers will make them eligible to be trainers for other national censuses and surveys such as the Ghana Living Standards Survey, Demographic and Health Surveys and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys.

The pre-certification training programme will combine virtual with in-person modules and will run from October 15, 2020, to February 5, 2021, for National Trainers and from  November 17, 2020, to March 5, 2021, for Regional Trainers.

National Trainers will be trained to train Regional Trainers who will be trained to directly train Data Collection Officers. National Trainers will be recruited to work in their region of residence while Regional Trainers will be recruited to work in their district of residence.

After completing the pre-certification programme and carrying out their duties as trainers, trainers will be required to carry out additional responsibilities such as monitoring and report writing. As such, trainers engaged for the 2021 Population and Housing Census must be available through to the end of the census period.

The GSS said in a statement that the application process is free. Eligible individuals with a postgraduate degree or equivalent experience as a trainer for censuses/surveys are invited to apply online via https://phc2020.statsghana.gov.gh.

The Statistical Service conducted the country’s last census in 2010.  This year’s census scheduled for April has been rescheduled thrice with the government’s statistical body looking at next year to count the country’s population.