Pakistani boy becomes world’s youngest MS PowerPoint Specialist

LONDON: A six-year-old British Pakistani boy who became the youngest MS Office professional by passing the Microsoft certification in MS Office 2013 has now set another record by becoming the youngest person in the world by passing the MS PowerPoint Specialist examination.
Muhammad Humza Shahzad, from London’s East Croydon, scored 850 points out of 1,000 while the required passing score for the Microsoft PowerPoint is 700. He took the exam at the Microsoft Institute in London.
According to the report card seen by this correspondent, Humza received 90% in creating and managing presentations; 50 percent in inserting and formatting shapes and slides; 67 percent in creating slide content; 100 percent in applying transition and animations and 100 percent in managing multiple presentations.
Speaking to The News, Humza Shahzad said that the MS PowerPoint is a complete presentation graphics package, which helps in the production of professional-looking presentation.
Humza Shahzad’s father Asim Shahzad, who is an IT professional, explained that the Microsoft Office specialist exams are taken in a simulated environment. “You’re asked to show the ability to do a series of tasks or complete a project through a set of specific tasks.
The old system of memorising answers and ticking boxes is no more applicable.”He said that he did not teach Humza even a single thing and Humza himself learned everything from this new software and is now extremely efficient in this tool.
Management at the Best Training Institute in Streatham, London, where Humza sat for these exam said he was very impressed with the exceptional abilities of this kid. Steve Herbert, who runs the centre, said, “It is normally something adults do if they want to progress their careers. It is very impressive.”
Humza shared his feeling that now he likes to work in this Microsoft products as much as he likes playing games and watching video games.Humza’s parents are overly joy about their son’s achievement and they are glad that their son has achieved something that has a place in history at a very young age.
Humza’s mother Seemab Asim said she was proud that Humza had attained these records not only for himself but for the whole of Pakistan. She said, “He is known as a Pakistani heritage child and that’s a matter of pride and dignity for everyone. It is important we celebrate our high achievers and heroes who make distinctions. We have the example of Arfa Karim, the computer prodigy from Faisalabad, who at the age of 9 became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional. Unfortunately, Arfa is no more with us, but there are more computer prodigies out there who are making their country proud. We should celebrate all of them.”
Humza moved to England in 2011 when his father got a job as a Senior Development Manager at a multinational IT company in London. The family now lives permanently in East Croydon, London.