Curricular transformation and School sports competition in Uruguay: a renewed opportunity in the light of sports education

Abstract

Since March 2023, a curricular transformation in education is being implemented in Uruguay. The new “National Curricular Framework” replaces at the first educational level, the “Initial and Primary Education” that has been in force since 2009. One of the novelties in the Physical Education area that enhances the teaching of the disciplinary knowledge, is the incorporation of the concept of “sports education” from Velázquez Buendía (2004) with its three dimensions in which he proposes to intervene: in the practitioners, spectators and consumers. In this article, based on the findings from previous research done in Primary Schools from Montevideo and the northern coast of the country (Artigas, Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro and Soriano provinces) we reflect on sports teaching and its school competition, and we review its didactic transposition and pedagogization need. We propose a series of tasks that, from different dimensions, would contribute to the development to general and specific physical education competencies, proposed in the new curricular framework. In this way, the teaching of School sports competition, would propitiate the education of participatory and critics’ citizens, committed to the development of the country’s sport culture.