DUBAI — Joel Vergis is a topper in his school among boys for securing 80 per cent in Commerce stream. However, the 18-year-old student who has achieved distinction in Our Own Indian School (OOIS), Dubai, is no ordinary boy because he is visually challenged.
Vergis, who was on top of the world, yesterday after getting his results, told Khaleej Times, “I am satisfied with what I scored though I did expect more. However, this 80 per cent is a combined effort of my parents, my sister, teachers, school mates, principal and friends. I could not have achieved this without their help and efforts.”
The rather modest boy said, “I thank God that I secured so much and that too the highest among boys.”
It was no easy ride for the boy, who gradually lost his eyesight over the years. The fact that he was able to see earlier and then lost his vision completely has been harder for him and his parents. His mother, Annie Vergis, has helped her son all through his schooling and, in fact, she recorded all lessons on tape and read out each paragraph till he comprehended and learnt them by rote. “She reads out all important points to me and I try to understand and remember them,” he said.
He concedes that it wasn’t always so simple especially with subjects like mathematics. “I found it difficult to learn because it is not an easy subject to grasp from a tape, considering you have to understand the concepts and apply them. This is why I felt I scored only 89 per cent,” he explained a little dejectedly.
A Grade XI student from his school played the role of a scribe to aid Joel write the Board examination, while he dictated them after understanding each question. In fact, he was given an extra hour to write his papers.
Joel, who also won the Best Outgoing Student Award in school this year, now wants to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in, perhaps, history. “I would like to study in India and in a normal college because of the campus experience I can get and also will have the chance to socialise with people from different backgrounds. This will help me get to experience a different part of life,” he said.
The young boy adds with hesitation that his choices of a future course would have to be made carefully because of the limitations he may face. He believes that not knowing how to use a computer could act as a deterrent.
“I have to learn to use the computer soon. The National Association for the Blind in India has advised me to study in a regular college and they will provide me the study materials. Not knowing to use the computer is a limitation now for to learn any subject, I need to have the knowledge of computers,” he admitted.
However he plans to go to India later this month with his mother to weigh out his options and find a suitable college in any Indian city.
His mother, Annie Vergis, said she was overjoyed that his son had scored so well in his crucial examinations. She said, “I feel extremely happy because within his capacity, he has done a great job. He is the only one who has got distinction among boys in his school. I feel like I have scored the marks as I studied with him everyday.”
They hope that in India, they would be able to find a college that could help him as colleges in the UAE are not yet fully equipped to support visually challenged students.
Aziz Akhtar, Executive Principal of OOIS, said, “Joel is an exceptional student of OOIS. Inspite of being a physically challenged boy with complete visual impairment, he secured an aggregate of 80 per cent. We are indeed very proud of him and would like to congratulate him. We laud the efforts of his parents and the teachers who have worked as a team along with the school in supporting Joel in all his endeavours.”