Australian schools 'ill-equipped' to meet needs of children stranded overseas

Educators call for more resources as figures show 23,000 Australians abroad want to return but cannot amid coronavirus restrictions

Education experts are warning that schools will need to be specially equipped to help students stranded overseas to catch up on missed classes when they return, as trapped Australian children contemplate repeating a grade.

The alarm has been echoed by federal opposition's education spokeswoman, Tanya Plibersek, with the Australian Education Union also warning that schools in general are under-resourced to support Covid-19-affected student learning.