This Normal stream student thought he was a failure. Now he’s opening doors for students like him

Clarence Ching, a 32-year-old former student from Singapore, grew up believing he was destined for failure. As the only child of educators, his parents did their best to help him succeed, even volunteering to secure his spot at a popular primary school. However, Ching struggled academically, scoring 196 points in the PSLE and being placed in the five-year Normal (Academic) stream. This label, he says, made him feel like a failure within the education system.

His experiences led him to found Access Singapore, a social mobility charity aimed at helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds gain the social capital needed to expand their opportunities. Diagnosed with ADHD in primary school, Ching once defined his worth by his grades, a mindset he overcame after meeting former MP Lily Neo, who became his mentor. Over the years, Ching volunteered for Neo, eventually helping her with her parliamentary work, despite feeling he wasn't good enough due to his background.

Unable to secure a local university spot, Ching enrolled in Britain's Durham University on a scholarship funded by his parents' retirement fund. There, he became interested in social mobility. Ching believes that social capital, encompassing exposure to opportunities and professional networks, can have a greater impact than academic support. He founded Access in 2019 with minimal resources, taking on various jobs to sustain the organization as it grew into a charity running multiple initiatives.

Ching aims to deepen Singapore's understanding of social mobility by developing a National Social Capital and Opportunity Index. This index, set to measure disparities in access to opportunities and networks, will help identify where support is most needed. Despite progress, nearly three-quarters of students from low-income families still do not attend university, a statistic Ching hopes to change through his tireless efforts.