Career development and the discipline of Learners in secondary schools in Kiruhura District, Western Uganda

The study explored the connection between career development and the learners' discipline in secondary schools in Kiruhura District, Uganda. The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between career development and discipline of learners in public secondary schools in Kiruhura District, western Uganda. A cross-sectional research design and mixed-methods approach were employed. The target population was 2758 individuals, comprising 2579 learners, 7 head teachers, and 172 teachers. The sample size was 349, determined using Slovene's formula. Seven schools and head teachers were purposively selected, and 321 learners and 21 teachers were selected using simple random and stratified sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Content validity index and Cronbach’s alpha were used to determine the validity and reliability of quantitative data To guarantee the reliability of the data, the quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and summary tables. Inferential analysis showed that there were significant positive and weak relationships between career development and the discipline of learners (r = .07, p = .047). The study concluded that career development positively influenced learners' discipline. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education introduce career weeks in secondary schools.