Lazy or Busy Lives? Leisure Reading and Cultural Practices Among Slovenian Teacher Education Students

The paper examines the leisure-time activities of students enrolled in teacher education programmes in Slovenia, with particular emphasis on reading habits, engagement with current political affairs, and participation in cultural activities. The authors present the results of quantitative studies conducted in the academic years 2017/18 and 2024/25 at the University of Ljubljana and the University of Maribor. The sample comprises 871 students, predominantly female, reflecting the gender structure of enrolment in teacher education programmes at both universities. The findings indicate that digital activities and socializing are among the most frequently selected leisure activities, while leisure reading shows a more complex pattern: a larger proportion of students in 2024 included reading among their main leisure activities, but those who selected it reported spending fewer hours per week reading than their counterparts in 2017. The findings also indicate relatively limited engagement with informative and cultural content among future educational professionals. The article highlights the relevance of leisure-reading habits and patterns of social, cultural, and political engagement for considering the future professional roles of education students as teachers and promoters of reading culture and active citizenship.