Stats SL Begins 10-Day Training for Field Officers Ahead of 2026 Census
Alusine Ahmed Kargbo Statistics Sierra Leone has started a 10-day training programme for field officers as preparations intensify for the 2026 Population and Housing Census (PHC).
The exercise, which began Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, is being conducted in the five provincial headquarters to prepare personnel for their responsibilities during the nationwide census.
The programme focuses on census procedures, data collection techniques, fieldwork supervision and the proper use of census equipment. Participants are expected to gain the practical knowledge needed to ensure information collected during the exercise is accurate and reliable.
Francis Sheku Kobba, Regional Principal Statistician for Statistics Sierra Leone in the Southern Region, said the training is an important part of preparing for the national exercise.
He explained that officers taking part in the Training of Trainers programme will share the knowledge and experience gained with other personnel who will participate in the census.
Kobba said the information gathered through the 2026 census will help the government understand the country’s population, its distribution and the needs of different communities.
The findings are expected to support government decisions on education, health care, housing, agriculture and infrastructure, while helping authorities plan development programmes and distribute resources.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining professional standards and ensuring that field officers follow approved census procedures. He said effective coordination, proper preparation and public cooperation will be essential to the success of the exercise.
Two participants, Abass Nabieu Jah and Rachel Hawa Kamara, who are attending sessions at Hall 1 in the Southern Region, said the training would help them develop the practical skills required to contribute to the successful conduct of the 2026 census.