The Sunday Mail
Charles Mushinga
TROY Robert Chinyanga, the boy who shook the world in 2018 by writing and passing the Cambridge Ordinary Level (O-Level) Maths examinations aged only 11, has done it again.
This time, aged only 14, he has scored a B in A-Level Mathematics after studying the subject for only three months.
Troy, a Form Two pupil at Goromonzi High school, achieved a Grade B in the Zimsec Pure Maths June 2020 examinations whose results were released a few weeks ago. Troy’s father, Mr Roy Chinyanga, invented the MXKOPS System that apparently makes it easier to pass Maths regardless of age or prior challenges with the subject.
The Sunday Mail tracked down Troy at the MXKOPS System centre in Hatfield, Harare and also reached out to the MXKOPS System inventor Mr Chinyanga from his base in the United Kingdom to investigate this phenomenon.
A shy but clever lad, Troy started the interview by sharing his disappointment that Zimsec does not offer A-Level Statistics in June Examinations.
“I could have been going to University this year had I taken the statistics exam,” he lamented.
Then, sounding way too mature for his age, he continued:
“In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of our scientists have gone underground. We have not heard of research being carried out except at HIT (Harare Institute of Technology), which briefly showcased a breathing machine. We are not actively exploring how our traditional plants, foods and practices can be objectively used to reduce or combat Covid-19. We know that Africa appears to have been saved probably because of its climate and high Vitamin-D levels among its population,” he said, exhibiting his intellect.
Troy said he started studying for the A-Level Pure Maths syllabus on February 25 this year before sitting for the fexaminations on June 1.
“I simply followed my dad’s plan or Methodology and everything just fell into place.”
Pushed to explain the plan, Troy said the MXPOS System was a protected secret that can only be better shared by his dad.
He, however, said that his study time was 8 am to 4pm with intermittent breaks.
Troy, who is also fascinated by fashion, joked that he will not be surprised if ‘haters’ that accused the late socialite Ginimbi of using a ‘black snake’, also accuse him of the same for passing his exams.
The Sunday Mail tracked Mr Chinyanga in the UK to explain the MXKOPS system.
Mr Chinyanga argued that the country was already implementing the MXKOPS system, albeit inadvertently.
“President Mnangagwa’s Government is already at work, they have clear outcomes and have shut down the noise levels. They ceased competing for noise decibels and realised that people understand outcomes and are attracted to outcomes. Work is already in progress to achieve middle income status by 2030,” he said, adding that his system is similar.
He said revolutionising the education system was urgent because the current structure wastes learning time.
“There is need for a modernised Nziramasanga Commission 2, but this time it must be responsive, outcome focused and skills orientated. The MXKOPS starts by defining the child, parents and their aspirations. We can do the same for every child and parents by creating a profile and data base that we can work with against personal and country aspirations. There is too much wastage of student time at the peak of their brain function. Student talents and skills can be enhanced if time is saved and their expertise directed towards Vision 2030.
“We have been there before. But someone myopic and probably with less interest of Zimbabwe in 1979 asked us to move our educational system towards time-wasting. Between 1960 and 1980 we had nurses aged 14 or teachers, builders and surveyors aged 16. We had students going to University with two ‘E’ passes, training to be doctors. These graduates ran our efficient health sector through the 90s and many are still in practice.
‘‘This begs the question: Are we reading too much into A-Level points as a selection on who gets to study certain professions?” he questioned.
Mr Chinyanga said authorities need to interrogate why other SADC countries, which have better performing economies than Zimbabwe, require less stringent entry requirements for university enrolment.
He said Zimbabwe must start devising another system of selection at Universities and Polytechnics other than A-Level points alone.
“What is the outcome of each province? How many medical doctors, nurses, and surveyors do we need to build budgeted infrastructure or medically support provincial needs?
University intakes must be directly proportional to each region’s growth needs. We cannot allow a situation of 90percent of medical students coming from Mashonaland or Harare Province simply because students had an unfair advantage over study resources. MXKOPS system says that is not the outcomes we are seeking for Vision 2030.
“Vision 2030 must be youth-focused and ready to equip as many young people as possible with functional skills. Our teaching and testing content must have a significant portion of transferable skills in every subject.
‘‘Maths and its application must make the cornerstone of each subject. By so doing our educational system becomes empowering.”
Mr Chinyanga reckons the MXKOPS can demonstrate its empowering character using Zimbabwe’s resources.
“Yes indeed it can. Firstly Zimbabwe has to address it’s time wasting syndrome and adopt the pre-1979 education model. They can easily achieve this overnight by combining grades. Grade Seven and Form 1; Form Two and Three; and Forms Four, Five and Six. The last group will now be achieved over two years, the first year being AS Level and final year A-Levels. This would allow our High school graduates to enter University aged 16 at their peak of innovation and inquiry and graduation at 19, 20 or 23.
Our University will then adopt a mentorship system from 16 to 18 guiding our young students and raising their aspirations.
“If we follow this MXKOPS system’s outcome focused approach we will have young innovative, highly skilled and aspiring graduates ready to move our productivity to higher levels and not tired old men whose brain function is already loaded with all sorts of things,” said Mr Chinyanga.
He has a whole plan under his system for Troy after his December 2020 examinations.
The plan will involve teaching Troy coding skills, introduction to surveillance studies, drone systems and cyber security studies.
“Troy will also learn practical training in basic engineering, basics of repairing, replacing rams, drives…retrieving deleted files. He will master Microsoft Office in preparation for University as well as attain advanced academic writing skills and introduction to research on how science works.
“Literally for the next four months months Troy will be immersed in a world of research, appropriate play, learning how X/ Box games are designed and designing his own.
“MXKOPS will plan for a child within his/her environment and Troy will wind up with a subject that recognises that Zimbabwe is an agriculture-based country that is full of untapped natural resources that can be brought to the world stage by young minds at work,” said Mr Chinyanga.
Rodgers Logan Chinyanga, Troy’s older brother, failed his Grade Seven with 17 Units and the teacher recommended educational psychologists for him to better retain information.
But whilst in Form One, in June that year Rodgers wrote and passed O-Level Maths (B), Biology (B) and English (C). In November that same year he wrote and passed A-Levels Maths with a B.
Now Zimbabwe has a Masters of Pharmacy graduate only aged 22 – all using Mr Chinyanga’s system.
