Post by GEM Report UNESCO

1 in 5 students feel anxious about mathematics, with girls reporting higher levels than boys. PISA 2022 data reveal large gender gaps in maths anxiety in countries such as Denmark, France, Germany and Norway, while in others, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Cambodia, the gap is minimal. The effects are tangible. Maths anxiety is linked to lower performance, weaker confidence and more limited subject choices. Over time, this shapes outcomes: women represent just 35% of STEM graduates globally, a figure that has barely shifted in a decade (UNESCO Institute for Statistics data). Beliefs play a powerful role. When girls internalize the idea that boys are better at maths, their performance declines. Teacher expectations and textbook bias can reinforce these perceptions. Maths anxiety is neither innate nor inevitable. It is socially shaped and therefore policy-responsive. Engaging parents, training teachers and reviewing curricula are practical steps towards creating learning environments where confidence grows alongside competence. ➡️ Explore more in the #WorldEducationBlog by Anna Cristina d'Addio, PhD: https://bit.ly/3XRxDJ3 #GirlsInICT #WomenInScience