Examining the effectiveness of the primary education curriculum in terms of leisure education: an overview of learning outcomes in the Turkish public education system

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to examine the compulsory and elective course learning outcomes that indicate the goals of the primary education curriculums in terms of leisure education. The data were collected using a structured content form based on qualitative research methodology and were analysed using content analysis, which is a quantitative method. A total of 3013 learning outcomes in the primary curriculum in the 2017–2018 academic year were separately examined and coded by three researchers. Of the 2160 compulsory courses, 326 (15%) included direct leisure education outcomes, and 456 (21.1%) included indirect leisure education outcomes. Of the 853 elective courses, 90 (10.5%) included direct leisure education outcomes, and 182 (21.3%) included indirect leisure education outcomes. The highest learning outcomes of leisure education in the compulsory courses were in Physical Education and Sports and Games and Physical Activities courses, while the highest learning outcomes of leisure education in the elective courses were in Visual Arts and Intelligence Games courses. In conclusion, approximately 25%of the primary education curriculum courses provide learning outcomes in terms of leisure education, but the learning outcomes are focused on awareness and leisure skills, and there is no balanced distribution of leisure education dimensions.