In spite of significant socio-economic development, rural areas in Asia continue to face poverty and environmental challenges. Education for rural people constitutes a key policy instrument to address them. Based on a seminar organized jointly by FAO and UNESCO, this publication reviews the educational situation of rural people (in Part I) and discusses policy and planning issues (Part II) in nine Asian countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia,P hilippines, Thailand and Viet Nam.