yleiskoulullinen

Yleiskoulullinen is a Finnish adjective used to describe aspects related to general or comprehensive education. In practice, it denotes content, methods, or programs that aim to deliver broad, non-specialized knowledge typical of general education, as opposed to vocational or highly specialized training. The term appears primarily in linguistic, historical, or comparative educational discussions rather than as an official policy label.

In the Finnish education system, general education is primarily provided by the peruskoulu, a nine-year comprehensive school offering yleissivistävä or general education. After completing peruskoulu, students may proceed to upper secondary education, which includes lukio (general upper secondary) or vocational programs. When scholars discuss a yleiskoulullinen approach, they are usually referring to curricula or teaching that covers core subjects across disciplines and prepares for further studies, rather than for immediate entry into a specific trade.

Etymology: the term combines yleis- meaning general with koulullinen meaning school-related; the compound is mainly found in scholarly or descriptive usage. There is no standing formal program named yleiskoulullinen in Finnish education policy; it is used descriptively to distinguish general education from vocational or specialized tracks.

Note: More common terms in policy and practice are yleissivistävä koulutus or general education, rather than the compound yleiskoulullinen.