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The purpose of this study was to investigate the gender difference in the relationship between self-efficacy and performance in science. A sample of 327 Form Four students in Migori County was used. Questionnaires, focus group discussion guide and interview schedules were used for data collection. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation. Qualitative data were organized into themes and interpreted. Overall, boys had higher levels of performance in science (Mean=39.21) than girls (Mean=30.80) and the mean difference was statistically significant (t=3.89, p=.00). Boys had higher levels of self-efficacy (Mean=2.89) than girls (Mean=2.81) and the mean difference was not statistically significant (t=1.56, p=.12). Further, the overall correlation between self-efficacy and performance was statistically significant with r=.236 (p=.002, n=327). The correlation between self-efficacy and performance for boys was significant with r=.250 (p=.005, n=200) and non-significant for girls with r=.085 (p=.558, n=127). It is concluded that boys outperform girls in science and record higher scores in self-efficacy than girls. In addition, the variance shared in common between self-efficacy and performance is higher for boys than girls. To improve performance and also reduce the gender gap in science performance, self-efficacy should be enhanced for students but more particularly so for girls.

The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of career counseling on students' career development in secondary schools in Kenya. The study sample consisted of 341 (158 males and 183 females) secondary school students from year one to year four of study. The students were surveyed on measures of career development. The study found that female students were more likely than male students to go for career counseling and that going for career counseling had no significant effect on students' career development. There was no significant difference between those who had gone for career counseling and those who had not for all the measured variables. There is therefore great need for the development of a comprehensive guidance and counseling policy to guide the implementation and service delivery of counseling programs.