AN Ekurhuleni father wants the Department of Education to take action after his child was allegedly assaulted with a hammer by a teacher.

The 15-year-old boy sustained injuries on the head and his nasal bone was fractured when the teacher at Kempton Panorama, a remedial school, allegedly hit him over the head with the hammer.

The teacher has not been suspended and the department says it is investigating.

The boy's father is worried that instead of taking responsibility, the school is protecting the teacher.

"The principal called me on Friday and told me there has been an accident at the school. When I got there, they told me the teacher was trying to fix a door when he accidentally hit my son," he said.

"The boy was bleeding through the mouth. They had not even taken him to hospital."

But when he went to the sick room, the boy said the teacher was trying to batter another pupil.

The intended pupil ducked and he was accidentally injured.

"What makes me angry is that the department has not even contacted me. The school also lied to me," the father said. "Why would a teacher be fixing doors when he is supposed to be teaching kids?"

A criminal case has been opened against the teacher.

"The principal promised me they will take care of our medical fees, but now that we have opened a case, he refuses," said the father.

"They need to assist us with the fees because my child has problems breathing."

Education department spokesman Charles Phahlane said they would investigate.

"This year, 75 teachers have been charged with assaulting pupils at schools. But only 35 of the cases have been concluded."

He could not say how many teachers were fired as a result.