Quiet corruption hurting Africa

2010-03-15 22:19

Nairobi - A World Bank report says teachers and other public servants who don't show up for work are fuelling "quiet corruption" throughout Africa that is disproportionately hurting the continent's poor.

The report says studies over the last decade found teachers across Africa fail to appear as often as 25% of the time. The report warns of the effect such absenteeism has on children.

Monday's report follows last month's report by Transparency International that said parents in seven African countries reported they paid registration fees for primary education even though by law primary education is supposed to be free.

The World Bank report found that businesses across Africa expect to make bribes to public officials to get things done.

- SAPA