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UNBOUND brings together stories that don’t follow a single path – shaped by real-world challenges, lived experience, and the ideas that emerge along the way. From research to community impact, these are the stories behind SUSS.
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The Long Road from Prison School to Graduation
30 Oct 2026|4 Mins Read
For Kong Wye Wah and Alam Shah Bin Mohamed Ayoob, starting university in prison was only part of the challenge. Completing their degrees meant carrying on after release, amid uncertainty, financial pressure and the difficult work of rebuilding their lives.
When Kong Wye Wah left prison, he had already completed three semesters of his degree at SUSS Prison School. Finishing it would prove harder.
His Permanent Resident status had been revoked following his conviction, raising the possibility that he could be separated from his family. He also needed to find work and manage his finances. With so much about his future unsettled, continuing university no longer seemed possible.
Wye Wah deferred his studies so that he could work and save money. When he later missed the enrolment deadline for the following semester, he came close to giving up altogether.
The people funding his studies encouraged him to return. Their reassurance that they still believed in him gave him the confidence to resume his degree.
Wye Wah (first from left) and Alam Shah (far right) share a proud moment with Associate Professor Tay Huay Ling from SUSS Prison School and Mr Nicholas Ng, former MOE Prison School teacher, at SUSS’ Convocation on 15 October 2026.
In October 2026, Wye Wah and Alam Shah Bin Mohamed Ayoob became the first two students to complete their degrees through SUSS Prison School, run in partnership with the Singapore Prison Service. The initiative allows eligible inmates to pursue selected bachelor's degree programmes during and after their sentences.
For both men, graduation marked the end of a journey that had begun under very different circumstances.
A Reason to Keep Learning
After three convictions, Alam Shah felt that his life had fallen apart. He had lost his freedom, broken the trust of those closest to him and feared the damage he had done to his marriage.
When he first heard about SUSS Prison School, he doubted whether he could return to studying. Friends encouraged him to try.
At first, weekly lessons were simply a way to occupy his time. But watching his peers obtain good grades brought out his competitive side, and he began taking his studies more seriously.
His family gave him another reason to keep going. During visits, his mother would bring his son along. Seeing his child strengthened Alam Shah’s resolve to become a better role model.
His attitude towards learning also began to change. In the past, remarks such as “Alam, you don’t know this?” had left him embarrassed. At SUSS Prison School, he learnt to put aside his pride and ask questions without worrying about what others might think.
That willingness to learn continued beyond the classroom.
After their release, Alam Shah and Wye Wah met former fellow inmates to study together. Many remain in contact and continue meeting regularly.
Learning and growing together: Alam Shah (front row, second from left) and Wye Wah (back row, second from right) with fellow Prison School classmates, Associate Professor Tay Huay Ling from SUSS Prison School (front row, first from right) and Mr Harminder Singh, SUSS Vice Dean of Students (second row, far right).
What a Degree Could Not Solve
Leaving prison did not mean leaving their difficulties behind.
For Wye Wah, the structure and support that had helped him begin university gave way to the pressures of everyday life. He had to find work, manage his finances and face uncertainty over whether he could remain in Singapore with his family.
Continuing his education required more than doing well academically. He had to find a way to keep going even when his circumstances made it difficult.
For Alam Shah, education gave him more than a qualification. It helped him develop the discipline and confidence to work towards a future he had once doubted was possible.
Now working in workplace safety, he hopes to pursue further qualifications and spend his spare time supporting youths at risk.
“I do not see graduation as the end of my journey, but rather as a foundation for the next stage of my career,” Alam Shah says.
For Wye Wah, looking ahead also means hoping that society will give former inmates the chance to be recognised for who they are today.
“I hope employers understand that people can change and that our past doesn’t tell the whole story of who we are," he says. “I may not be able to change my past, but I can take responsibility for my future and show that through my actions.”
Learn more about Wye Wah and Alam's journey:
Second Chances: Graduating from Prison School with My Mother's Support featuring Wye Wah
Second Chances: Learning How to Break the Cycle featuring Alam Shah
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UNBOUND brings together stories that don’t follow a single path – shaped by real-world challenges, lived experience, and the ideas that emerge along the way. From research to community impact, these are the stories behind SUSS.
Keep up-to-date by subscribing to our monthly LinkedIn newsletter.
Subscribe on LinkedIn