The ministries of education and health have extended support to the family and a 12-year-old learner who could potentially lose vision in one eye after allegedly being bullied at school.

The boy was allegedly struck in the eye by a ruler thrown by an elder learner at Erongosig Primary School in Usakos.

It is alleged that despite the child's immediate complaints of impaired vision, he remained at school.

He was only taken to Windhoek for medical attention after arriving home from school.

The incident has since triggered widespread condemnation from both ministries.

The Executive Director in the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, expressed shock at the incident and called for a thorough investigation.

"The Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture acknowledges that yes indeed, the incident did regretably happen where the eye of a child was injured by a ruler and, as a result, had two surgeries. This is a very difficult time for the family, and the Ministry is doing its best to ensure that this child is getting all the necessary help."

A team of psychologists has been dispatched to provide the necessary psychological and emotional support to the learner and his family, as well as assess the long-term impact of the incident on the 12-year-old's well-being.

"We've worked closely with the mother and other family members; this is an incident that once again shows us the importance of immediate, deliberate action at our schools."