When Mr Eberlein supervised an examination of a 3^rd year group of OPV students in November last year, he noticed that Ernest, a FET Natural Sciences student, held his paper just centimetres from his face to enable him to read the questions. After the examination he called Ernest aside and asked him about his condition. This was the first step towards a life-changing experience for Ernest Selala.

Since 2000, Ernest’s eyesight was beginning to deteriorate. His condition is known as keratoconus, which is a degenerative disorder of the eye. By the end of last year he only had 3% sight in his left eye and 10% sight in his right eye. Mr Eberlein approached an optometrist friend, Murray Reyburn for tests. Mr Reyburn decided to get involved and he designed a new lens for Ernest. A lens that is similar to a usual contact lens, except that it is much bigger and stronger. Then one day early this year, Mr Reyburn called Mr Eberlein to bring Ernest to him to fit the lens.

This was the beginning of a brand new life for Ernest. The moment Mr Reyburn fit the lens onto his eye, a new world opened up to him. He immediately took a book that was on the table and began to read! His right eye now has 75% sight. “The day Murray Reyburn fitted that lens onto Ernest’s eye and he could see for the first time after 12 years, I will never forget what a joyful occasion it was”, Mr Eberlein said.

Despite his challenges, Ernest has been able to pass most of his subjects during his four years of study at UP by attending every lecture, listening intently in class and relying on his memory. Many of his friends have assisted him with assignments by typing his work for him when it was not possible for him to see on the screen or on the keyboard of his computer.

Majoring in Physics and Mathematics, Ernest has also proven to be a passionate and popular mathematics teacher. The high school learners in his home village at Mamone near Jane Furst in Polokwane have enjoyed the benefit of the Mathematics Winter School that he has arranged at his high school for the past four years, building on the tradition he started when he himself was still a learner at the school and would present extra mathematics lessons to his peers in the afternoon.

“When I was at school some learners used to call me ‘sefofu’ which menas ‘blind man’. But that does not bother me anymore”, he said.

Ernest now has a wonderful new life to experience. He also now realises that if any teacher or family member could earlier have noticed that he had this disability, and could have referred him to the right person as Mr Eberlein did, he might have received appropriate assistance sooner. Now it is impossible to save his left eye which only has 3% sight. “I will always be aware of learners with possible disabilities and how I can be of assistance to them”, he said.