States continue to resist pressure from the federal government to reopen their classrooms quickly amid warnings as many as two million Australian children are at risk of falling behind while learning from home.
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Most states have started term two with distance education arrangements and varying timetables for when students might return to classrooms as part of combatting the coronavirus.
But federal Education Minister Dan Tehan wants all children back in classrooms by the end of May.
His department has released research backing this push.
The five papers from education experts say children who are already disadvantaged will fall further behind because of this disruption to their schooling.
The loss of social connections and the surveillance system schools provide to pick up on issues will exacerbate their risk of dropping out.
And more children are likely to fall into the vulnerable categories.
In addition, teachers have never had to do online education on this scale and many lack the necessary skills.
Natalie Brown and her colleagues from the University of Tasmania say it is clear children are already experiencing "learning loss".
"As soon as health restrictions permit, there is an urgent need to reconnect these students to the physical context of school-based learning to support their learning and wellbeing outcomes," they write.
They recommend all children from preschool to year two return to classrooms as a priority.
They estimate that being at home risks the educational outcomes and physical and mental wellbeing of nearly half of all students - two million out of 4.3 million children.
A separate paper from Victoria University's Stephen Lamb estimates that if online education lasts for the whole of term two, disadvantaged students in year five will lose 1.5 weeks' worth of reading education and nearly three weeks of numeracy.
Year nine students would lose 2.3 weeks of reading and 3.3 weeks of numeracy - a third of a term.
"For children, virtual learning is less effective than face-to-face learning in school," Professor Lamb says.
But Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews insists vulnerable children in his state aren't being left behind.
"We're working very, very hard to make sure that every young person, every child, every student, gets every chance, and is looked after and cared for," he said.
Parents in Victoria continue to be encouraged to keep their children at home if possible.
The Tasmanian government is doing the same.
"We run the schools in Tasmania and I'll make decisions that are in the best interests of our teachers, our parents and our students," Premier Peter Gutwein said when asked if he would heed the commonwealth's advice.
NSW students will have a slow return to classrooms from May 11 while WA has made a "soft start" to schooling with year 11 and 12 students strongly encouraged to attend in person.
In South Australia, the school term resumed as normal on Tuesday but the premier estimated just under two-thirds of students attended.
Australian Associated Press
