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Mathematics anxiety (MA) has a debilitating impact on learning, achievement, mental health, and the future career life of students. Though MA is a popular research theme, there is little agreement among researchers regarding the cross-cultural effect of gender. The purpose of this paper was to explore the perceived MA differences among males and females across cultures using the Anxiety Towards Math Scale (ATMS; Muñoz and Mato, 2007). Data were collected between October 2019 and September 2020) from students (N = 4,340) in 12 countries. Using univariate analysis of variance, the results indicate that gender has a significant main effect on MA with females recording higher mean scores than males, [71.816 > 68.118]. Examining the interaction effect of gender and location, significant differences in MA scores exist between males and females across all locations except for Egypt, Malaysia, and Nigeria (Enugu State). Conversely, females reported significantly higher MA scores than males in the rest of the locations, except Iran (Tehran and Qom) and Pakistan (Faisalabad). Gender-based ranking of the top-three locations with high MA scores indicates that females, starting from Malaysia, Thailand (Bangkok), and Nigeria (Enugu State) ranked the highest. Similarly, males beginning from Malaysia, Nigeria (Enugu State), and Thailand (Bangkok) ranked the top-three in MA. The implications are that mathematics teachers need to adopt different culturally-appropriate and gender-focused interventions to support students with MA challenges. Though interpreting the results from this survey need to de done with caution due to the smaller community and national online samples, the role of cross-cultural gender differences in MA cannot be overlooked.

Persian language and literature have a presence of about one thousand years in the Indian subcontinent. The growth of this language is indebted to Ghourid rulers whose mother tongue was Persian. However, we should not be negligent of the significant role of great Iranian Sufis and mystics such as Ali Ibn Othman Hojviri, Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti and Sayyed Ali Hamadani. The necessity of a research about the continuation and growth of Persian language in Pakistan is due to the questions as when this language and literature found its way and what is their importance in this country, as well as to what extent they have influenced Urdu and eventually their effects on Iranian studies. The research method is based on the review of historical documents with emphasis on numerous manuscripts kept in national and private libraries in Pakistan. The outcome of this research shows that the strength and solidity of Urdu is in critical need of more manuscript sources and stone-print documents for better understanding of spiritual culture, historical and public identity of Pakistan and seriously demands preservation of the ancient heritage of this region and production of new sources for the modern history and culture of Pakistan. Persian language and its heritage no doubt have a great share in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]