Name of Object:

L'École de la Rue du Pacha (inside the classroom)

Location:

Tunis, Tunisia

Holding Institution:

Institut Supérieur d’Histoire Contemporaine de la Tunisie

 About Higher Institute for the Study of Contemporary History of Tunisia, University of Manouba, Tunis

Date of Object:

1861

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Paper

Description:

This photograph shows a classroom of young Muslim girls at l'École Louise-Renée-Millet (renamed l'École de la Rue du Pacha in 1911/1912) in 1908. The presence of a moueddeb and a French teacher is notable. The moueddeb would have taught the principles of the Quran and elementary Arabic (reading, writing, arithmetic), whereas the French teacher would have covered the French education (literature, history, science and hygiene), as well as needlework (embroidery, sewing, lace). For the younger pupils of the school this classroom was the door to the world and one which allowed them to explore life. Young girls of this time often lived very sheltered lives, shut away in their homes without the opportunity to learn. Their education was usually limited to housework and needlework, either at home or at a Dar el-Maalma, a local atelier run by an old housewife.

Type of Object

Photograph

Citation of this web page:

Saloua Khadhar Zangar "L'École de la Rue du Pacha (inside the classroom)" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.
https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;tn;68;en

Prepared by: Saloua Khadhar Zangar
Translation by: Flaminia Baldwin

MWNF Working Number: TN 068