Democratisation and Educational Inclusion during Lockdown Times: Perceptions of Portuguese Teachers

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The study provides valuable data to challenge some common assumptions that emerged during the lockdown. The data is significant regarding the shift in teaching methods, reinforcing the principles of collaboration and a focus on a more successful and egalitarian approach to education.

Although acknowledging the limitations of distance education, it is relevant to consider that another type of school is possible, operating as an agency for the democratization of opportunities for access and success, beyond the dichotomy of more school and better school. In fact, more school (rigid, uniform, the same for everyone) does not necessarily imply an increase in equity (it may even mean the opposite).

References 7 and 8 are dated, do not seem to reveal analytical relevance but do not justify the need for a review.

Author Response

See document attached.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The research is very interesting and on a very current topic. It proposes an assessment of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on school educational policies with a focus on democratisation and inclusion.

I recommend that the article be published with major revisions. My rationale for this recommendation is that the presented research exhibits methodological accuracy but requires enhancement in the theoretical framework and the discussion of results. The following suggestions are offered: for the consideration of the authors:

The abstract concisely reports the aims and outcomes of the research. The methods, participants, results, and conclusion are presented in a structured manner. The first suggestion would be to present what makes this research different from the existing international ones (research gap). An additional recommendation involves the inclusion of a concise summary of previous research to outline the importance of the problematic.

The theoretical framework introduces some of the research concepts in a comprehensive manner. However, certain concepts, such as "teaching work" may not be entirely suitable within the English language, seeming to be a  translation of specific phrases from another language. I recommend a thorough review of the terminology. At times, sentences appear excessively lengthy and intricate. I recommend revisiting the phrasing style, aiming for clarity using clear, short, and concise sentences. As an illustration, consider the final sentence of the initial paragraph, which span five lines (28-32). Certain sentences lack substantiation through bibliographic references. Whenever making assertions related to research or studies, it is imperative to provide at least one bibliographic reference supporting the claim. For instance, in lines 33-35 “Since the start of the pandemic, worsening social and educational inequality has been a focus, both in terms of public policy and the already sizeable body of research published on the subject" should be accompanied by a relevant bibliographic reference. Please review the entire document in this regard. The theoretical part is very interesting, explaining very well documented the relationship between democratization and instrumentalization. However, I recommend presenting the results of previous studies (especially since the pandemic has already been over for 2 years, with many published studies) on the impact of the pandemic on the democratization of education and increasing access to education.

Furthermore, within the theoretical section, it is imperative to expound upon the concept of "Home learning," as indicated in the title of the instrument. It is recommended to delineate the distinctions between home learning (potentially referring to online learning in a home setting) and homeschooling. Providing clarity on these terms will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the instrument's framework.

The method is described in detail. The research design is correct.  I suggest a division between the results and discussion sections. Presently, the discussion component appears to be overlooked, with the primary emphasis being placed on results presentation. Within the discussion section, I propose an incorporation of result interpretation, their alignment with existing literature (similarities and divergences from analogous studies in different school cultures), implications for educational policies and practices, acknowledgment of research limitations, and recommendations for prospective studies. This would contribute to a more comprehensive and robust academic discourse.

Owing to the absence of a dedicated discussion section for analyzing the incorporation of results into the specialized literature, the current scientific article exhibits a relatively limited number of bibliographic references. I recommend augmenting the list of references by incorporating additional recent international articles (currently, the citations are predominantly Portuguese). This enhancement will contribute to a more comprehensive scholarly discourse.

 

Sincerely,

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Certain concepts, such as "teaching work" may not be entirely suitable within the English language, seeming to be a  translation of specific phrases from another language. I recommend a thorough review of the terminology. At times, sentences appear excessively lengthy and intricate. I recommend revisiting the phrasing style, aiming for clarity using clear, short, and concise sentences. 

Author Response

See document attached.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper was a pleasure to read. It meets all the criteria of a high quality research narrative.

I particularly appreciated the contextualization of this research within broader debates around educational objectives and cultures.

There are two typos - the omission of a word and the omission of a quotation mark which, presumably, will be picked up at production stage. But neither prevent the sense of the sentence being conveyed. 

Author Response

See document attached.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I am writing to congratulate you on the successful revision of your manuscript in response to the reviewers' comments. Your efforts have significantly improved the quality of the research, and the manuscript now meets the high standards expected for publication.

I believe that your research will make a valuable contribution to the field. I look forward to seeing your work published and shared with the academic community.

Congratulations once again, and thank you for your hard work and commitment to advancing knowledge in your area of study.

Best regards,