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JOHANNESBURG — Staff absenteeism, sexual harassment of students and misuse of funds ranked as South African schools' top problems, in a survey released Wednesday by graft watchdog Transparency International.Of the 45 local school boards surveyed, 35 percent cited absenteeism by teachers and other staff as the top risk of corruption, with 29 percent citing sexual harassment of students and 27 percent the misuse of school funds.

Among its findings: one out of two students doesn't always have a desk; 15 percent of schools have no electricity; 10 percent have no running water.Lax security left students and teachers afraid for their safety, with one in four students citing rape and violence as major problems, the survey said.

"The government needs to strengthen governance controls both at the provincial and school level and ensure that education budgets are used correctly," said Letshego Mokeki, National Programme Coordinator for Transparency in Service Delivery in Africa.