While most 17- and 18-year-olds put on their uniforms for the last time and went to school on Monday, Jan. 14 to receive their O-Level results, a small batch of students, donned in prison garb, received theirs behind bars.

These were a group of 61 prison inmates who attended Tanah Merah Prison School, and took the O-Level exams near the end of last year.

They studied hard while serving their sentences and took the papers (thankfully theirs didn't go missing).

And despite some not having been in school or touched a textbook in years, they did well.

According to Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Amrin Amin, more than 80 per cent of the 61 students passed three or more of their subjects, and two inmates scored five distinctions.

Amrin had this to say of their success:

"They overcame many odds, fought against doubts they had in themselves.

This is a good achievement. Good results are a welcome bonus. It will certainly come helpful in securing jobs later upon release. But most of all, the fact they tried and believed in themselves is a major achievement in itself."

Great job, you guys, and all the best in restarting your lives anew upon your respective release.

Here's Amrin's Facebook post:

Top photo via Amrin Amin's Facebook post

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