Abstract:
In light of the present society infested with crimes, it is a timely
need that the community be empowered with legal literacy to
succeed in controlling and preventing crimes. Hence, while
investigating its practicality, this study intends to identify the need
for criminal law to be included in Sri Lanka’s junior secondary
school syllabus (Grades 6 to 9: 11 to 14-year age group). Twelve
out of eighty-one schools in Mahiyanganaya Educational Zone
have been selected using the stratified sampling method for the
study. Sixty responders were chosen to represent every school in
the sample, and data were collected through a questionnaire,
which was analysed using SPSS software. The study revealed that
in controlling and preventing crimes, improving the legal literacy
of the whole community plays a crucial role. It was established
that school-level education should be prioritized to enhance legal
literacy, build childhood personality, and overcome legal
illiteracy. In this regard, 95% of the participants agreed that the
junior secondary school syllabuses should be updated so that
criminal law is integrated into the school syllabus as a subject. The
study recommends properly identifying junior secondary school
syllabuses and upgrading their expected learning outcomes
through a committee of specialists. Psychological and technical
aspects must be incorporated in reforming the syllabuses. It is
recommended that for the subject content to be delivered
practically, highly qualified personnel should be recruited as
teachers to make this effort more productive
