CURRICULUM AND LEISURE POLICIES: TEACHER TRAINING IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES

Abstract

This article analyzes the importance of the Leisure and Recreation discipline in the initial education of future Physical Education professionals, considering the challenges posed by contemporary society and highlighting the historical protagonism of Castelo Branco University (UCB) in this field of knowledge. Based on the understanding of leisure as a social, cultural, and political phenomenon intrinsically linked to transformations in the world of work and everyday life, the study critically examines reductionist perspectives that still persist in academic contexts, which tend to view leisure merely as uncommitted entertainment or a set of recreational techniques. Methodologically, this is a qualitative study based on a narrative literature review, drawing on national academic production and incorporating both classical and contemporary authors in the fields of leisure studies and Physical Education teacher education. The analysis demonstrates that the Leisure and Recreation discipline represents a fundamental educational axis for the development of a critical, ethical, and socially engaged professional practice, enabling dialogue with areas such as public policies, culture, collective health, tourism, and community-based interventions. Furthermore, the article emphasizes the pioneering contribution of Castelo Branco University, particularly through the legacy of Professor Raul Ferreira Neto, whose pedagogical approach integrated theory and practice through active methodologies, such as the Recreation Panels, reinforcing the centrality of leisure within the Physical Education curriculum. It is concluded that strengthening this discipline is essential for training more comprehensive professionals who are capable of understanding leisure as a social right, a constitutive dimension of human existence, and a strategic field for professional intervention.