School Curriculum Vis-À-Vis Legal Literacy
- IJLLR Journal
- Nov 20
- 2 min read
Akshat Chaudhary, Hidayatullah National Law University
“Legal literacy is not merely awareness of the law — it is the power to ponder, evaluate, assess, accept or challenge before appropriate forum, any law or rule made for us.”
In a democracy that begins with the words “We, the People,” understanding the law should be as fundamental as reading or writing. The legal literacy develops broader aspect of togetherness, respect and equality before law. Yet, for most of the children, the law feels like a distant, adult concept and something that is confined to courtrooms or the nightly news, not something that shapes their everyday living.
The quote above captures what we often overlook: legal literacy is not about memorising the laws or its jargon, but about cultivating the ability to think critically about justice, fairness, equity and good conscience. In the world’s largest democracy, shouldn’t our youngest citizens understand the very system that governs them?
This question becomes even more pertinent when we confront the realities of childhood in India — child labour, cyberbullying, online scams, sexual abuse, disrespect , early marriage, and exploitation. The knowledge of what is right and wrong, and what protections exist can mean the difference between silence and justice.
It is time to ask: why isn’t legal literacy already a part of every child’s education?
The Missing Subject in Indian Classrooms
India’s school curriculum covers an impressive range from environmental science to moral education. But one crucial subject remains conspicuously absent: the law.
Legal literacy is barely mentioned in textbooks, save for a few lines about fundamental rights in civics lessons. A few progressive boards and private schools have introduced “Legal Studies” at the higher secondary level, but for the vast majority of Indian students, law remains abstract and intimidating.
While schools teach values through moral science, they fail to teach the legal frameworks that protect those very values. The result? A generation that understands what is right but not how to claim it.
Legal literacy is that missing bridge — the link between knowing and doing, between ideals and empowerment.
