physical education; physical activity; physical literacy; curriculum; europe
Abstract :
[en] Purpose :
This study examines the progressive development of physical education (PE) curricula across 40 European countries, emphasizing conceptual ideas, curriculum goals, and content.
Methods :
Using a mixed-method approach, the study employed an expert-informed online survey developed through expert consultations to ensure validity and alignment with PE principles. Quantitative data were examined using descriptive distribution analyses with SPSS 29.0. Qualitative responses named national reports of country-level documentation were analyzed using inductive content analysis supported by ATLAS.ti for data organization. Results:
The findings demonstrate a diverse interpretation of PE conceptualizations, which include health promotion, physical literacy, movement competence, and recreational goals. While most curricula emphasize psychomotor learning and inclusion, affective learning remains underrepresented. Variability in curricula goals and content underscores significant regional differences.
Conclusion:
Across Europe, PE curricula increasingly reflects a shared commitment to holistic and inclusive approaches. These approaches position PE as a vital component of contemporary education. Nevertheless, greater attention to both affective and cognitive learning dimensions remains essential to promote sustainable lifelong engagement in physical activity.
Research Center/Unit :
RUCHE - Research Unit for a life-Course perspective on Health & Education - ULiège
Disciplines :
Education & instruction
Author, co-author :
Salin, Kasper ; Faculty of Sport & Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
Vlček, Petr; Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Elsborg, Peter; Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital—Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark
D’Anna, Cristiana; Department of Educational Sciences and Sport, Pegaso Digital University, Naples, Italy
Lundvall, Suzanne; Department of Food and Nutrition and Sport Science, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
Pavlova, Iuliia; Department of Theory and Methods of Physical Culture, Ivan Boberskyj Lviv State University of Physical Culture, Lviv, Ukraine ; Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Lutsk, Ukraine
Goss, Hannah ; School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Iconomescu, Teodora Mihaela; Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Dunarea de Jos University, Galati, Romania
Algurén, Beatrix; Department of Food and Nutrition and Sport Science, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
Antala, Branislav; Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
Bartle, Gillian; University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland
Black, Victoria; University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
Bryant, Anna; Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy (CSESP), Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences (CSSHS), Cardiff Metropolitan University, Wales, United Kingdom
Carlos-Vivas, Jorge; Physical Activity for Education, Performance and Health (PAEPH) Research Group, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
Cowley, Joe; University of Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
Christodoulides, Efstathios; University of Central Lancashire (UCLan Cyprus), Larnaka, Cyprus
Csanyi, Tamás; Department of Physical Education Theory and Methodology, Hungarian University of Sports Science, Budapest, Hungary
Emeljanovas, Arunas; Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania
Fernate, Andra ; Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
Foweather, Lawrence; Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, England
Gilic, Barbara; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Gisladottir, Thordis; Research Center for Sport and Health Sciences, School of Education, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
Green, Nigel; International Physical Literacy Association, Wigan, England
Eren, Gonca; Eskişehir Technical University, Eskişehir, Türkiye
Groffik, Dorota ; Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
Heck, Sandra; Institut National de L’activité Physique et Des Sports (INAPS), Luxembourg, Luxembourg
van Hilvoorde, Ivo; Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, The Netherlands
Huhtiniemi, Mikko ; Faculty of Sport & Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
Jaunig, Johannes; Department of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
Jones, Ellen; Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy (CSESP), Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences (CSSHS), Cardiff Metropolitan University, Wales, United Kingdom
Jurak, Gregor; University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Kelso, Anne; Department of Health, Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Koka, Andre; Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
Kreinbucher-Bekerle, Christoph; Department of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
Laudańska-Krzemińska, Ida; Poznań University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland
De Martelaer, Kristine; Movement and Nutrition for Health and Performance (MOVE) Research Group, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
Martins, João; Centro de Estudos em Educação, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana e UIDEF, Instituto da Educação, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Masanovic, Bojan; Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of Montenegro, Niksic, Montenegro
McKee, Melanie; Stranmillis University College, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Mendoza-Muñoz, Maria; Research Group on Physical and Health Literacy and Health-Related Quality of Life (PHYQOL), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
Merkes, Joe; École fondamentale de Reuler, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Mieziene, Brigita; Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania
Milanovíc, Ivana; Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Mileva, Eleonora; National Sports Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
Mouton, Alexandre ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences de l'activité physique et de la réadaptation > Intervention et gestion en activités physiques et sportives ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Unités de recherche interfacultaires > Research Unit for a life-Course perspective on Health and Education (RUCHE)
Müller, Ivan; Department of Sport, Exercise and Health (DSBG), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Németh, Zsolt ; University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
O’Brien, Wesley; Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts Programme, School of Education, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Onofre, Marcos; Centro de Estudos em Educação, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana e UIDEF, Instituto da Educação, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Winje, Øystein; University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
Petrytsa, Petro; Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
Pihu, Maret; Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
Popeska, Biljana; Faculty of Educational Sciences, Goce Delcev University in Stip, Stip, North Macedonia
Popovic, Stevo; Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of Montenegro, Niksic, Montenegro ; Department of Physical Education, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Poweleit, Andre ; German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Radisavljević Janić, Snežana; Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Riga, Vassiliki; Department of Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
Sander Melby, Paulina; University of Southern Denmark and Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Odense, Denmark
Schnitzer, Christophe; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France ; HEP pays de Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland
Sekulic, Damir; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Semyonova, Marina; Pavlodar Pedagogical University named after Alkey Margulan, Pavlodar, Republic of Kazakhstan
Singh, Amika; Mulier Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
Smila, Baiba; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Olaru, Bogdan Sorin; Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Dunarea de Jos University, Galati, Romania
Töpfer, Clemens ; Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
Tsivitanidou, Olia; University of Central Lancashire (UCLan Cyprus), Larnaka, Cyprus ; Inquirium Ltd., Nicosia, Cyprus
