Education is a major catalyst for human development; Through an exhibition and side event at the High-level Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (UN, September 2010) UNESCO demonstrated how rapid advances in education can help to achieve all of the MDGs.

In the year 2000, 147 heads of State and Government, and 189 nations pledged to halve extreme poverty by the year 2015. They identified the eight MDGs listed below.

• Eight reasons why education is important to achieve the MDGs