Once a dropout, now an MOE Teaching Award winner: The story of RP alumnus Presslee Chng

Growing up in a disadvantaged family, School of Sports and Health graduate Presslee Chng believes in the power of education and resilience to transform lives, both his own and those of others.

Presslee is one of four RP alumni who recently received the Teaching Award at the Ministry of Education Scholarship Ceremony 2026. While he graduated among the top students of the Class of 2024, his educational journey was far from straightforward.

At seven, Presslee had to drop out of primary school and began working at 14 to help ease his family's financial burden. Ridiculed for his lack of education, he found the motivation to return to school after nearly a decade away from formal education.

From NorthLight School, he went on to enrol at ITE College West before securing a spot in RP Diploma in Health Management & Promotion, now known as the Diploma in Sports & Health. Along the way, he discovered a passion for healthcare and continued to push himself academically, earning the Lee Foundation Scholarship and Tan Eng Yoon Endowment Scholarship.

After graduating from RP, Presslee joined the National Institute of Education's Teaching Scholars Programme, pursuing his dream of becoming a Physical Education teacher.

Now, he hopes to pay it forward by drawing on his own experiences to inspire his future students. "I hope that by sharing my stories and life experiences, I can help my future students become more resilient and better equipped to face life's many challenges," he shares.

Presslee is living proof that second chances can lead to extraordinary places. Discover the full story of his road back to education and his dream to inspire the next generation in this CNA TODAY feature ↗ (opens in new tab).