Setting an example: Ash (in white shirt) talking to the media during the award ceremony at the Kluang Prison in Johor.
KLUANG: For two inmates, there are no prison walls high enough to contain their dreams of changing their lives through education.
The two, who wanted to be known as Aiman, 20, and Ash, 22, got eight As in their 2023 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam.
Aiman, who is currently serving time in Marang Prison, Terengganu, was recognised as the best SPM 2023 student among Integrity Schools and Henry Gurney Schools nationwide.
He also received an award for obtaining more than 3As among students from these schools.
“This is the second time that I sat for the SPM, but the first time that I was able to get all As in the subjects I took. My previous result was not that good at all.
“I just wanted to prove that a prisoner like me can achieve great things even behind prison walls. I want to change the public perception of prisoners to prove that we can be successful if given the chance,” he said.
Aiman was one of four students from the Integrity Schools and Henry Gurney Schools who got straight As in their SPM.
He was given an award for his achievement at a ceremony in the Kluang Prison here on June 10.
He said he has learnt from the mistake that put him behind bars and hopes to start anew after completing his sentence in six months’ time.
“When I get out from prison, I want to continue my studies in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as it can provide me with a stable future,” he added.
For Ash, his straight As will spur him further in his goal of becoming a lecturer.
“This is the third time that I took the SPM. In 2022, I obtained only five As, which is why I retook it to improve myself.
“I am currently pursuing an entrepreneurship diploma under Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), where I am currently in my fifth semester.
“God willing, I will start industrial training for three months before graduating in November,” he said.
Ash is currently serving a nine-year sentence and is due to be released in 2028.
Education Ministry director- general Azman Adnan, who was at the event, said students from Integrity Schools and Henry Gurney Schools have achieved a 100% pass rate in their SPM for two years in a row.
There are presently 10 Integrity Schools and five Henry Gurney Schools nationwide under the Prisons Department.
“A total of 74 candidates from these schools sat for the 2023 SPM exam and I am very pleased to say that each of them qualified to get SPM certificates.
“In fact, four of them obtained straight As,” he said.
“It is the focus of the ministry to make sure that all students, no matter where they are, are able to get access to education.
“Through the work of the ministry and department, it is proven that students coming from both Integrity Schools and Henry Gurney Schools are able to get good results on par with students from other institutions,” said Azman.
