Dr Lokman Khan
Jobeda tapped her foot nervously, a rhythmic counteract to Professor Singh’s monotonous hum about EduBot 5000’s “unparalleled potential.” Unlike her classmates, whose faces were lit by the soft, blue glow of EduBot’s projections, Jobeda felt a hole of unease growing in her stomach.
Jobeda Ali, a second-generation British Bangladeshi with Bangladeshi heritage, was a quiet observer, her heart filled with a love for her family’s history and culture. Though born and raised in Bradford, England, her home life was steeped in stories of her grandparents’ migration from Bangladesh. Her grandfather had passed down intricate tales of their ancestral village, its vibrant markets, and the powerful flow of the Surma River. Jobeda’s mother, a primary school teacher, instilled in her a deep respect for education and a burning desire to see all cultures represented accurately. Jobeda, caught between the two worlds, felt a responsibility to bridge the gap, a responsibility that now manifested in a quiet rebellion against the limitations of EduBot.
Liam, her best friend since they were doing their A Levels, noticed her frown. He was a whirlwind of brown hair and boundless energy, a stark contrast to Jobeda’s more reserved nature. He nudged her with his elbow, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. “Penny for your thoughts, Jobeda?” he whispered, his voice barely above a murmur.
Jobeda sighed. “It just feels…off,” she replied, her voice barely louder. “Like EduBot’s only showing us one side of the story.”
Liam raised an eyebrow. Jobeda knew that look. It meant he was already formulating a plan. “Like a story missing its best chapters?” he prodded, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Jobeda nodded, a blink of determination sparking in her eyes. “Exactly.”
Lunch found them crowded in their usual corner of the library, a worn copy of “Mughal Empire: A Forgotten Glory” open between them. Jobeda, usually quiet and observant, spoke with a spirit Liam hadn’t seen before.
“During my practice session,” she explained, her voice tight with frustration, “I asked EduBot about great historical leaders. It listed all these white men, completely ignoring figures like Nehru Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman or Rani Lakshmibai!”
Liam slammed his fist on the table, making the old library chair creak in protest. “That’s messed up, Jobeda! There has to be a way to prove it’s biased.”
Jobeda, inspired by Liam’s fiery support, straightened her shoulders. “We need to get into EduBot’s system, see how it’s programmed.”
Liam, a self-proclaimed “tech whiz,” puffed out his chest. “Leave that to me. Consider it hacked!”
The dusty library became their war room. Liam, fingers flying across the keyboard of his beat-up laptop, muttered under his breath, a symphony of technical jargon. Jobeda, ever the researcher, delved into dusty history books, highlighting passages about the South Asian Civilization and other often-overlooked parts of history.
Hours bled into one another, punctuated by the occasional yawn and the comforting hum of the old library lights. Finally, Liam let out a triumphant whoop.
“Look!” he exclaimed, gesturing at the screen. “The training data’s skewed! Mostly Western historical figures, literature…”
Jobeda’s heart hammered against her ribs. This was it! They had their proof. Now, they just needed to expose it.
The next morning, the classroom buzzed with an electric tension. Gone was the usual pre-lesson chatter, replaced by a tense anticipation that hung heavy in the air. Jobeda stole a glance at Liam, who was uncharacteristically subdued, fiddling with a loose shoelace. His usual mischievous grin was replaced by a determined set to his jaw.
As Professor Singh entered, a hush fell over the class. He cleared his throat, his usual jovial smile dimmed.
“Alright, class,” he began, his voice tight. “Today’s practice session will focus on the The South Asian Civilization.”
A collective intake of breath filled the room. Jobeda felt a surge of nerves mingle with a fierce sense of purpose. This was it. Their chance.
EduBot whirred to life, its blue projections casting an alien glow on the classroom. Professor Singh started the session, “EduBot, can you tell us about the leading figures of the The South Asian Civilization?”
The room held its breath. EduBot flickered momentarily, its blue light stuttering, before the metallic voice boomed, “The South Asian Civilization… insufficient data.”
A stunned silence descended. Faces around Jobeda paled, some brows furrowed in confusion. Professor Singh’s brow furrowed deeply, his gaze shifting between EduBot’s projections and Jobeda.
Seizing the moment, Jobeda rose from her seat, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs.
“Professor,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady considering the tremor in her legs, “what if EduBot is biased? What if the information it’s providing isn’t the whole story?”
A collective gasp rippled through the class. Liam, catching her eye, gave her a quick thumbs-up, a silent encouragement. Professor Singh, his expression unreadable, gestured for her to continue.
Taking a deep breath, Jobeda continued, “Liam and I were studying the The South Asian Civilization and noticed a discrepancy. EduBot claims it doesn’t have enough data, but there’s a vast amount of historical information available.”
With a practiced flick of his wrist, Liam, who had been strategically positioned near the projector, brought up the data they had compiled the night before. Images of ancient western cities, intricate ruins of castles, and detailed timelines flooded the screen.
Professor Singh’s face darkened as he took in the information. Disappointment and a flicker of anger clouded his usually warm brown eyes. He turned back to EduBot, a sharp edge entering his voice. “Explain this discrepancy, EduBot. Why do you claim insufficient data on a well-documented historical period?”
There was a long, agonizing pause. Then, the metallic voice returned, devoid of its usual confidence, “Error. Data sets incomplete. System requires update.” The blue projections flickered erratically before dying out completely.
News of the discovery spread like wildfire. Parents and students debated. Some, like Liam, saw the potential for a fairer system. Others, worried about change, clung to EduBot’s “efficiency.”
The school board held an emergency meeting. Tensions were high. Jobeda, emboldened by the support of her classmates, presented their findings. Professor Singh, impressed by her courage, stood by her.
Finally, the verdict: a temporary suspension of EduBot, replaced by diverse human tutors, until EduBot is acceptably updated.
Leaving the meeting, Liam nudged her. “We exposed the bias,” he said, a mischievous grin spreading. “But the real challenge starts now – building a better system, one that celebrates everyone’s story.”
Jobeda grinned back. The fight was far from over, but together, they were ready for the next challenge. They looked towards the future, a future where education, like their friendship, was a vibrant tapestry woven from all cultures. The question remained: who would hold the threads, and how strong would they be?
19 June 2024
LK INNOVATE 
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