There is some link between a lack of food and truancy at school. Most schoolchildren in the Mtwara region only receive one meal a day which is provided in the afternoon, when they return home from school. Many students have to walk long distances to school, a journey that is made more difficult by the fact that they do not eat before leaving and will not eat until they return home. Research into the link between malnutrition and education in developing countries has illustrated that a lack of food correlates with truancy and increases the likelihood that those who attend school will repeat a year. While this research may not always be directly applicable to Tanzania, a high percentage of Tanzanian children go hungry, increasing the likelihood that this research is relevant. While it is important to provide food at school, the food provided must be high in nutrition, so that children can get more out of their schooling and education.