Some Moldovan Citizens Puzzled by Strange Questions on the Census Form

The census in Moldova has perplexed some citizens with strange questions. One of them is whether you were at home on the night of 7-8 April. While people are puzzled by the meaning of some questions, the National Bureau of Statistics says that the census complies with international standards. The list of questions that citizens will have to answer as part of the census includes some frankly bizarre ones. For example, one of the questionnaires published by the National Bureau of Statistics asks people whether they slept at home on the night of 7-8 April. At the same time, Moldovans have to say where they were on 8 April and whether they are going to leave their home in a few months. Another question that puzzles many people is whether they have problems with sight, hearing, mobility or memory and concentration. Social networks are already full of publications in which people are outraged by questions in census forms. Some even ask where they can pay the fine if they do not want to answer such questions, especially since they are also asked to provide their phone number. The National Bureau of Statistics explains that the census should set the same reference date for everyone. On the other hand, sociologists and survey experts say that the census has room for questions that may seem weird, but they have their own purpose. “Other persons in the country, other state institutions are also involved. Based on the results of processing statistical data from the census, certain state policies are implemented, namely the Ministry of Health, other ministries can add issues related to reproductive health, social assistance to better understand what is happening with citizens. This is absolutely normal practice,” said Dumitru Slonovschi, an expert in market research. As for the telephone number, experts say it is necessary so that the authorities can later assess the census quality. The population and housing census started on Monday, 8 April. More than 4.5 thousand census enumerators went to villages and towns to collect information. The census will last until 7 July. It cost 370 million lei. The authorities say that the data collected will help us better understand the population’s welfare, education and ethnic structure.