43-year-old inmate passes all his A-level subjects, eyes degree
The Straits Times|February 24, 2024
Adam (not his real name) walked back to his seat to show his classmates his A-level result slip, his look of surprise giving way to a wide grin.
Thian Wen Li

The 43-year-old is no ordinary student he received his A-level results on Feb 23 in prison, earning his third certificate in three years after his N and O levels.

He was one of 11 inmates who sat the exam in Prison School in 2023. Eight of them qualified to apply for polytechnic, private degree courses or full-time local university courses.

Prison School runs academic classes at various levels up till A levels, and partners with institutes of higher learning for inmates' further studies.

Adam, who is serving a 21-year sentence for drug offences, has been in prison since 2012. It is not his first prison stint, as he has had previous brushes with the law.

Recalling his student days when he took his N levels over 20 years ago, he said he failed every single subject as he was young and did not think things through as a teenager.

He did not have high hopes of passing all his A-level subjects but ended up scoring Cs for General Paper and Management of Business the two subjects he had the highest hopes for a D in literature and in accounting, and an E in economics.

This story is from the February 24, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.

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This story is from the February 24, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.

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