2008 CensusAtSchool : one month left to go! (Media Release)

	MEDIA RELEASE
June 4, 2008		54/2008

With only one month left, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is encouraging all students to take part in the 2008 CensusAtSchool project.

Thousands of students have submitted the online questionnaire since January this year, however, the cut off of 4 July is now fast approaching.

This is the last opportunity for students to make their data count and be a part of building an engaging statistical resource.

The next CensusAtSchool project will be run to coincide with the National Census in 2011.

Ian Wong, a teacher consultant working with the ABS believes that "Students will have a connection to the survey questions because they have completed it themselves, which makes CensusAtSchool exercises more engaging than working from textbooks."

Consisting of 40 questions, the CensusAtSchool questionnaire collects information on students' lifestyle, personal characteristics and opinions on topical social and environmental issues.

The responses collected from students will form a large national database that students and teachers can access to assist in classroom activities and will contain a wealth of information about students, including their use of technology, attitudes, eating habits, hours of sleep and much more.

"CensusAtSchool helps students look at statistics not just as dry figures but as a gateway to discussion and analysis" says Paul Taylor, director of ABS Education Services. "What better way to get students to explore the world of data and information than by taking part in the online data collection and analysis project, CensusAtSchool."

For more information on how to get students involved, visit the ABS CensusAtSchool website at <www.abs.gov.au/censusatschool>.