Investigating the Attitudes of Teachers and Students of Higher Education towards New Education Policy and its Implementation in Bhavnagar District

The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, introduced by the Government of India, marks a significant shift in the country’s educational landscape, aiming to make the system more holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, aligned with the needs of the 21st century, and rooted in Indian values. This study investigates the attitudes of teachers and students in higher education institutions in the Bhavnagar district towards the NEP and its ongoing implementation. The primary objective is to examine their awareness, perceptions, and readiness to adapt to the transformative changes proposed under the NEP framework. A descriptive research design was adopted, using a structured questionnaire distributed among a convenience sample of total 180 higher education teachers (N=90) and students (N=90) across government, grant-in-aid, and self-financed institutions in the district. Findings indicated a generally positive attitude among both students and teachers towards the objectives and vision of the NEP. However, concerns were raised about infrastructural readiness, faculty training, curriculum restructuring, and clarity in implementation strategies. Teachers expressed apprehension about the additional workload and ambiguity in guidelines, while students were optimistic about increased flexibility and skill development opportunities