Some years ago the Department of Statistics at the Ministry of Finance conducted a survey of the population and number of houses in the Kingdom. Thousands of employees fanned out across the country, knocking at the doors of every villa, every house, every apartment and even every tent. Questions were asked about jobs, numbers of children and general social conditions.
The idea of the survey was enthusiastically received by the people, who thought their troubles would soon be over and their conditions improved because of the development plans based on the survey. The survey was preceded by a census, which was a comprehensive and detailed study.
It was not long, however, before people began asking questions as to why, despite all the questions and the survey, no tangible results were forthcoming. They began to wonder why the employees conducting the census had asked so many detailed questions.
These days a new survey is under way and people are asking the same question: What is the goal behind it all? The media has joined in the campaign but from a different angle, painting a rosy picture and telling the public to expect good results.
Based on our past experience, what results can we expect? None of the surveys or censuses in the past led to anything. What tangible results have we seen? What became of all the figures and charts? Did anyone benefit from the information and set up practical projects designed to meet present and future needs? If they did, why is everything still so confused? Why are our universities unable to accommodate the increasing number of students, our job market incapable of absorbing the armies of graduate job-seekers, our public services lagging far behind, unable to cope with the demands of a steadily increasing population?
The sad answer to all these questions is that no one benefited from any of the plans, surveys or censuses. All the information that was so carefully gathered is locked in drawers in government offices. It is unclear whether the files were even read in the first place.
The main purpose of any census is to build a database to help planners provide the kind of services required at any given time, both present and future. If we are unable to use the information to do this, we are wasting our time, energy and resources for nothing.
— Arab News Local Press 30 September 2003
