9-year-old earns accolade as Microsoft pro

A Pakistani girl has qualified as a Microsoft Certified Professional at the age of 9.

Arfa Karim of Multan has officially become the youngest MCP in Pakistan, and one of the youngest in the world. Karim, now 10, met with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates last week--an experience she later described as second only to visiting Disneyland.

To attain the credential--at any age--a person has to display technical proficiency in areas such as .Net, Visual Studio 6.0 and Windows Server 2003.

Karim got excited about technology, when her father bought her a computer--primarily to use for e-mail, according to S. "Soma" Somasegar, a corporate vice president in Microsoft's tools division.

"What she wants to do as she grows up--she would love to study at Harvard, work in a company like Microsoft and go back to Pakistan to do technology innovations in the field of satellite engineering," Somasegar wrote in his blog last week.

Somasegar describes her as the youngest MCP in the world, but according to a Channel News Asia report, the youngest ever to attain that qualification is India's Mridul Seth, who is said to have gained it at age 8 in November 2004.

According to Microsoft, Karim is part of a select group, as one of only a few certified professionals in the world to qualify below the age of 10.

Karim has been honored for her achievement by the Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman Foundation in Karachi, where she was presented with an award for excellence. She was the first recipient of the award, which will honor students "who have displayed exemplary achievements and skills in their respective fields." For her efforts, Karim was also given a computer.

Colin Barker reported for ZDNet UK. CNET News.com's Jonathan Skillings contributed to this report.

[Scott W]

wow

her future is already destroyed...<br />poor girl, no 9 year old should have the embaressment of being MS 1337. if she had linux then i would have some respect for her...<br />tut<br />tut<br />tut...

[Earl Benser]

Had my suspicions....

... that getting the MCP rating was child's play..... ;-)

[pythonhacker]

She still has a chance...

What an achievement! (sarcasm)<br /><br />Poor girl and her parents.. Someone might have told them that Microsoft is *the* pinnacle of computing. No wonder. I live in India and I know the attitude of most Indian software professionals towards M$. Most consider<br />M$ technologies as winners and knowing M$<br />crap as some big achievement in life.<br /><br /> She still has a chance since she is pretty<br />young. I hope Pakistan has some active LUG<br />which should take up the task of educating<br />the girl basics of Linux, OSS and perhaps Mac.<br />And ask her parents to throw away that<br />stupid MCP certificate.<br /><br /> How come I don't heat it when a fictional<br />10 year old girl gets her first Redhat certification? ;-)

What About You ?

but what about you ?, What you have done in your life ?, Look at you, your whole life is passing by and you and posting nonesense coments on CNET. i little girls achived a MS Certificate and you are telling its waste ? you are taking about Macs, Mac in india ?, on my 1 week trip to india i have not seen a single Mac, it looks like you like everything thats opposite of microsoft, even if you have not used it. here is the blog of him if someone is interested <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://randombytes.blogspot.com/" target="_newWindow">http://randombytes.blogspot.com/</a> and as usuall 60%+ logs are Anti-MS.

I don't think so

Ok, so a 9 year old can answer some mulitple choice questions correctly.. Dumb luck. That doesn't mean that she is a good programmer or knows what she is doing. It's like those little kids who become blackbelts. They have been given a break. What do they truly know or unerstand? It's a disgrace. A farce.

I agree

Memorising a whole bunch of answers does not mean the person actually understands the subject material. If a 9 year old can pass this exam, it obviously needs reworking to weed out these "memory monkeys".

True

Spoken like a true MCP :-)

[201293546946733175101343322673]

It is a disgrace that

You don't even have the dumb luck to get a certification when you are 9 years old :)

Heh

Even if she did memorize the answers, kudos to her for <br />outsmarting those who didn't get certifications. ;-) <br /><br />Furthermore, some children I've known are more intelligent than a <br />lot of adults I've met. Don't be so quick to dismiss her intelligence <br />as a fluke---people learn at different speeds.

[damnay-koh]

Best of Luck

Well done little girl. <br />As for the previous 4 comments, Don't behave like losers.<br />Linux, UNIX, OSX or windows all are nothing but OS. And OS is no good without applications. presently Windows is king of the hill in desktop and small business environment.<br />I have worked on number of OS ( Windows, Solaris8, OS390, Linux(redhat)), and I think windows is more then enough for every day-to-day tasks.<br />Have fun.

[Scott W]

day to day tasks

yes windows is amazing for day to day tasks such as having your computer slammed by script kiddies whenever it accesses the internet. if a 9 year old can get MS ceritified that proves that it is a joke. <br />oh, yeah and to the guy above me, i'd like to see what everyday tasks windows can do that can't be done in linux just as easily if not easier...

[Bill Dautrive]

Hilarious

This shows how easy and worthless MS certifications are.<br /><br />If you are thinking of taking these tests, don't bother. Learn computers and/or programming, not Microsofts poor implementations of them.

[201293546946733175101343322673]

Hilarious

This shows how easy and worthless MS Bashers are.<br /><br />If you are thinking of joining that community, don't bother. Learn computers and/or programming through Microsoft, not Open Source's poor and sour-loser's attitude :)

[Ross_Brigoli]

Microsoft got the best implementation of Object Oriented concepts and Service Oriented Architectures in .NET. Java is just second to it. Linux fans are just idealist who eny the success of microsoft's business. I dont care what your OSes are because it doesn't matter. <br /> <br />You cannot play your favorite online game with Linux, losers.

[Thomas, David]

LMAO ... :-)

Proof of how simple it is to get become an MCP, with no true <br />knowledge or background.<br /><br />This only illustrates all of my arguments of how Microsoft, and <br />gullibility of the world society toward computers, has dilluted <br />the pool of true programming.<br /><br />Flame on if you must. Go right ahead, but you cannot dismiss <br />the fact that Microsoft certifications polluted the market place, <br />and ignorant corporations took them as indications of someones <br />abilities. You can't replace years of education and training with <br />a piece of paper and Microsofts "rules" for development.<br /><br />In truth, this article only illustrates how sad things are.

[201293546946733175101343322673]

LMAO :)

Proof of how simple it is to get become a MS basher, with no true knowledge or background.<br /><br />This only illustrates all of my arguments of how open source fanatics, and gullibility of the world society toward computers, has dilluted <br />the pool of true programming.<br /><br />Flame on if you must. Go right ahead, but you cannot dismiss the fact that Open Source fanatics polluted the market place, and ignorant corporations took them as indications of someone's abilities. You can't replace years of education and training with a title "fanatic" and Open Source Community's "rules" for development.<br /><br />In truth, this article only illustrates how sad things are.

Bib Dillanony is proof of a typical MS shill

Bib,<br /><br />Thanks so much for your replies. It seems as though, much like MS, all you can do is take someone else's excellent work, slightly change it around, and then call it your own.<br /><br />No wonder you are such an obvious shill for MS. They rely on unimiganitive and unoriginal folks like you.<br /><br />BTW - how's that Longhorn thing coming? Tiger has been out long enough for MS to copy all the good stuff and incorporate them as "new features".

What ?

"Proof of how simple it is to get become an MCP, with no true knowledge or background."<br /><br />MS does not take the exams directly they partner with traning center like any other certification like RatHat, Linux. and most of these centers in developing countires carses about the fee not skill and pass all students.

[201293546946733175101343322673]

Smart Kids work for Microsoft

...and dumb kids work for some lesser-known companies :)

[Thomas, David]

Yeppers

Spoon, bib, hands at your side. Now swallow. Good boy.

[Bill Dautrive]

hardly

This kid is probably qualified to work at the most unethical and inept company in computing. Whoop-dee-doo.<br /><br />A real company however, would not look at such a meaningless certificate, regardless of age. Anyone can pass a multiple choice test without solid understanding of the material. Well, maybe not morons like Bib.

[Tom CyBold]

Child abuse?

Exposing a child to Microsoft's degrading, twisted concept of computing, with its convoluted licensing policies, useless eternal upgrades, indecipherable product names, hideous interface, viral vulnerability, and Pentagon-like dullness, strikes me as bordering on child abuse. I'm guessing the government in Pakistan has bigger issues to attend to than this violation of a child's innocence, but if it happened in this country I would report it to protective services. I mean, good grief, she had to actually TOUCH the chairman! And what if Steve Ballmer was in attendance?!? How will she ever cleanse that image from her mind? It IS humorous how foreign countries sometimes pick up on dubious, dorky things in the USA and think they're cool.

LOL Again!

so Linus Torvalds do all the OOS ever created, just becuase he is a Phds. ha ha ha :) ;).<br /><br />OSS only attracts Scipt Kiddies, Teenagers, Part-Time Developer, Pyscos like stallman, or people with nothing to do. nobaody do OSS as a day job or a professional develoeper. becuase some people don't live on donations!. who thinks because they can program they can kill MS and rules the earth. keep on shouthing free software, OOS.

[JoeF2]

If you write sw the same way you write English...

May I suggest the use of a spell-checker? It seems Microsoft doesn't provide one, or you can't afford it...<br />There are a number of Open Source spell-checkers available...<br />And talking about professional developers, somebody who demonstrates such carelessness in writing as you do can't be a professional developer.<br />And finally, a lot of professional developers in large, multinational companies like Sun, Novell, IBM are working fulltime on Open Source. They get paid very well (and can afford a spellchecker...)

Younger Generation

I got my MCP when I was 14 and I didn't have to have inside connections with Microsoft. I agree with most of the others... to have a chance this person will definitely want to get well known in both linux and Mac... talking from personal experience in the IT industry...

[Roy Stewart]

Congratulations Miss Arfa Karim

Miss Karim,<br />You have achieved a very significant accomplishment.<br />Ignore any detractors ro your prowess.<br />Accomplish your very well thought-out goals and the road for achieving those goals.<br /><br />Roy Stewart,<br />Phoenix AZ, USA

[CBrewster]

Not entirely correct and very misleading...

Quote: "To attain the credential--at any age--a person has to display technical proficiency in areas such as .Net, Visual Studio 6.0 and Windows Server 2003." This makes it appear as someone has to pass tests in all these areas to get the MCP Cert and that is simply not true. <br /><br />A quote from MS's own website: <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcp/requirements.asp" target="_newWindow">http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcp/requirements.asp</a><br />"Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) candidates are required to pass one current Microsoft certification exam that provides a valid and reliable measure of technical proficiency and expertise (a current exam is any that has not been retired)."<br /><br />That means all she had to was take and pass say the O2K3 test or the Windows XP Pro test or what have you. All you need to do is pass JUST ONE exam MS offers to get an MCP and not necessarily ones in the areas mentioned this article. And the article, by the way, does not say what exam she took and passed or how many times she took one before she passed it.

clueless

yep, these guys are obviously clueless. She could have passed a networking, or even an excel exam and she would be called a MCP. For those of you who thinks MCSD is worthless are obviously stupid, its only worthless without a college education. Its not like you are going to get a programming job without a college education anyway. MCSD just looks good on the resume and is something to do to keep you up to date in the fast growing market. It is an accomplishment though, but no its not going to get you any kind of job without atleast a 4 year degree.

[Thomas, David]

The value of a certificate

Plain and simple. Microsoft certifications aren't worth the paper <br />they are written on. They are too easily attained, thus providing <br />no clear means of identifying a persons actual capabilities. <br /><br />A Phd, and a first grade elementary student, can get the same <br />certificate. As a result, there is no value in the certificate, at all. <br />None, zip, nada. Well ... maybe a little caca.

tisk tisk

I disagree with you, a Phd wouldnt be taking the kind of certification this little girl took. For all we know she could of passed an excel certification and became a microsoft professional. As for the MCSD it is worth something, but only with a 4 year degree or beyond. Its not like your going to score a job with just certifications anyway

[jmaximus9]

The rest of the story

All part of Balmer's plan to cheapen labor costs. Why hire third world adults when you can use children? Americans at $70,000/year = bad. Pakistan child at $70/ year = good.<br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://jmaximus.blogspot.com" target="_newWindow">http://jmaximus.blogspot.com</a>

Same old trolls

Why is it that the same old crap gets typed in these comments.<br /><br />How many of you bagging this girl or Microsoft have kids? How many of those would be capable of memorizing enough to pass an exam like this? What were you doing when you were 9. Even the total geek idiots that are posting here probably weren't capable of something like this. And on reading their spelling and grammar they're probably still not. <br /><br />For Gods sake. Give credit where it's due. If you don't like Microsoft you don't have to bag everybody and anybody that has done anything with Microsoft products. That would mean you're bagging nearly everyone.

[jeanonnet]

I do agree that we should appreciate the little girl for the achievement. <br /> <br />She is tech-savvy and do have the talents to move up in deep manner. <br /> <br />Let her create a career in technology and we shall encourage her. <br /> <br />(And Microsoft is not really bad people - In the days were Apple and IBM existted, there were no desktop domain. It was Bill Gates who created the desktop platform and made it simple till now. They had faults and they made corrections too. But we cant forget their contributions - Because of them more people made career in computers. <br /> <br />And saying their technolgoy is simple - I strongly believe that for attaining a thing the way should be simple. For driving a car do you want to know all the engine works - no, you just need to know the steering, brakes etc. <br /> <br />And many of you so called developers, have you seen an era of machine language(hexa) - there these developers wont be able to do nothing there - so by making things simple and easy we can do more work, <br /> <br />I have worked in C, C++, Java, C#.Net, Delphi, VB, Disassembly etc. I do now appreciate the OOPs power of C# and Java is also powerful - I do agree it)

ok, i am pakistani too

ok, i am pakistani too and I earned my MCP when I was 17, believe it or not i earned it without having any personal computer and I had no idea what "IIS" stands for.<br />Truth about pakistani Education:<br />You have to study 10 big thick books to pass one class and believe me you will have no idea what exactaly are you reading, all you know is you have to pass classess.<br />and in her case most likely her father was strict and made her study books like crazy to do something unique, its common in out country to force our chilen to study over night.<br />so yes just by answering some multiple Questions does not mean you achieved something.<br />can she do simple "Hello World" ?

[nasirmalik]

Congratulations Arfa karim

Well done, this all appears to be your father's well sorted stratigy for a success and guidance, he too deserve a congratulation.<br /><br /> dear, I am 70 and learned the computing after my retirement all at my own, I too am sending my achievements in Computers to Mr, Bill Gates.<br />I have qulified Cnet on line 17 courses&#38; 5 HP courses. My Microsoft Learning test score for Win Xp is 53%. I topped in it on 27 March 2005.<br /> Nasir Malik

[junbugg22]

as all my years i have been alive there is only one thing i know for this they "those whom die for someone else are those whom are heros for that someone" that is all i have for today <br /> 10/11/08 <br /> from junbugg22

[junbugg22]

i also know that if you kill you'r just slowy dieing <br />so don't kill cause if you kill you so will also be dead

[junbugg22]

i also know that if you kill you are slow dieing <br />so thats why you should never kill cause if you do kill you also will die inside

[pujafrezel]

Hello everyone i am completely new to this forum.<br />Interested in learning many new things. Hope we all will share our<br />knowledge and talk about different concepts in this forum.----------------<br />&lt;a href="http://themastercleanse.org/evercleanse"&gt;Best Evercleanse&lt;/a&gt;--Best Evercleanse

[muslimboyz]

well done !! congrajulations on your success! miss arifa karim you have done incredeible work every one is very proud of you dear child !keep it up and show the world real image of muslims and Pakistan!