EN
The Lubelskie (Lublin) Voivodship possesses a quite great potential in terms of demographic and natural resources, but has not been characterised by any significant development in some recent years. The most likely explanation for this state of affairs relates to the low level of inhabitants' education, as well as the consequent inadequacy of preparation for participation in the social and economic changes now taking place. Poor qualifications are particularly to be observed among people in the rural parts of the voivodship. As these make up more than half of the total population, their low qualifications are a serious barrier to transformations. In this context, the problem of the education of young people takes on vital importance. It is after all the upcoming generation that will have to make the reforms of the future. This paper therefore deals with possibilities and conditions by which the young peo-ple from rural areas of Lubelskie Voivodship might receive fuller education. Access to various-level schools, school' infrastructure, the number of teachers per pupil and the opportunities for learning foreign languages and using computers are all considered. It was on the basis of the above features that a typology of the region was generated. This singled out four types of area, differing in respect of access to and quality of education. Thus, the worst conditions are characteristic of typically agricultural areas, while the best situation is that of the towns and suburban zones. In consequence, the most urgent matter for the present educational system in the Lubelskie Voivodship would seem to be to reduce differences between towns and countryside, and to adapt the system to the rapid demographic and economic changes of today.