Tunisia.. Image of a Woman on a School Notebook Cover Sparks Criticism

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The cover of a school notebook circulating in Tunisia has sparked a wave of anger and widespread criticism on social media, after it featured a female character named "Samara" in transparent clothing holding hand weapons, prompting many Tunisians to call for the product to be withdrawn from the markets and for an investigation into the entity that designed it and approved its circulation.

Users widely circulated the image of the notebook, considering that the design does not align with the educational nature of school supplies aimed primarily at children and students. It also raised questions about the criteria used in selecting the drawings and images placed on the covers of school notebooks, and whether they are subject to oversight or prior approval from the relevant authorities.

The circle of criticism also expanded to include the entities responsible for selecting the design, amid calls to review the mechanisms of supervision over these products that accompany students throughout the academic year.

In this context, the president of the International Organization for the Protection of Mediterranean Children, Rim Belkhodiri, stated that the use of such images on notebook covers reflects "a bankruptcy in educational imagination," emphasizing that Tunisia is rich in cultural, intellectual, and scientific resources that can be invested in presenting inspiring models and characters for children.

Al-Khadhiri added that the issue is not related to the woman's body itself, but rather to the visual message received by the child, pointing out that the cover of the notebook can be a means of instilling values and knowledge and sparking the student's curiosity, instead of merely featuring an image that "lacks educational or informative value."

She also expressed her astonishment at the possibility of the matter being linked to the Ministry of Education's oversight, considering that the role of educational institutions is not limited to administrative and material aspects, but also includes the quality of symbols and images presented to children as models and role models.

For his part, educator Mohamed Sassi criticized the choice of this design, questioning why images reflecting national identity or highlighting Tunisian scientific and historical figures that could contribute to developing national sentiment among students and encouraging them to strive and emulate successful models were not adopted.

Sassi considered that such covers should carry educational and cultural messages appropriate for the targeted age group, rather than images he described as unsuitable for the school environment.

In contrast, the National Chamber of School Notebook Manufacturers denied any political, religious, or ethnic backgrounds behind the choice of the image, clarifying that the character appearing on the cover is not a real woman, but a cartoon character chosen for commercial and marketing reasons, due to the popularity of cartoon characters among children.

The Vice President of the Chamber, Samir Al-Molhi, confirmed that the notebook belongs to last year's edition, and that the copies currently in circulation represent leftover quantities with some wholesalers and bookstores.

Al-Molhi also added that the Chamber has contacted a number of clients to withdraw the remaining copies and replace them with other notebooks upon request, in an attempt to contain the controversy that the issue has raised.

This controversy comes in conjunction with the school return in Tunisia, at a time when discussions about the reality of the educational system are renewed, whether regarding curricula and educational content or the rising cost of school supplies, which constitutes an additional burden on families.