Children with a history of severe malnutrition
perform less well on tests of IQ and specific factual knowledge than children in matched
comparison groups (9;20). Undernourishment also impairs the ability to concentrate, learn and
attend school regularly (19). A child who is malnourished and subsequently suffering from poor
health cannot adequately take advantage of instructional and learning materials (9). Thus, good
nutrition is needed to strengthen the learning potential of children, to enable them to learn
effectively and maximize investments in education.