Poverty as a social issue perceived by pedagogy students

In contemporary world the issue of poverty can be placed among significant but on the other hand rather appalling social problems. In spite of varied approach the phenomenon is not only labelled with economic dimension but also insuffi-ciency in numerous spheres to satisfy personal needs in the area of health, educa-tion, participation in culture, social and political life. Such issues, extended by fur-ther deliberations on terminology around the notion of ‘poverty’, its determinants and poverty measures together with the issue referred to the strategy of counterac-ting poverty and social exclusion both at the level of the European Union and Poland itself, was presented in the first part of the manuscript. It constituents both inter-pretation and the context in which scientific research was set, based on the popula-tion of university students.
The area of scientific study over the problem of poverty is permanently evolving towards new issues which require detailed scientific insight and extended analysis but also new approach and perspectives adequate to changes observed in the surrounding environment. Following such concept the second part of the book reveals scientific results describing poverty as a social phenomenon based on university students’ opinions. Scientific survey was conducted among 242 students of education departments at universities and colleges of higher education in Poland including: Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Maria Curie-Skło-dowska University in Lublin, Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education in Biala Podlaska and Warsaw School of Humanities named after Boleslav Prus in Warsaw. The main objective of the research was an attempt to establish how stu-dents perceive the problem of poverty in Poland and what is their attitude towards people who are embroiled in such a problem.
The issue of social glance over the problem of poverty seems to be significant by the respondents for the reason that it is the social group who is soon supposed to take over responsibility for the actions referred to varied sectors of social life. Their views, opinions and attitudes will be undoubtedly transferred in proper approach, ways and quality of their future actions.