CHILDREN'S level of motivation to learn has become worse since home schooling began, academics have told an assembly committee.
Many parents had also been left "burnt out" by the experience of the last three months.
The assembly education committee yesterday heard from academics from Stranmillis University College.
Its Centre for Research in Educational Underachievement (CREU) ran an online survey on experiences of home schooling during the lockdown.
There have been several surveys and reports that each addressed the challenges of remote learning.
The most recent one from the Education and Training Inspectorate this week suggested half of all pupils were not engaging remotely.
Schools closed for normal business in March. Teachers instead delivered lessons through apps and programs including SeeSaw, Google Classroom and Zoom.
The various studies found that tens of thousands of pupils were missing out on online classes.
Patchy broadband and poor levels of student engagement were said to be impacting teachers' ability to provide lessons.
Many young people appeared not to be responding to or engaging with teachers at all.
The CREU report asked how parents were approaching the change, how schools were supporting them, and what could be done to better help their households.
It found that parents educated to university level were more than four times more likely to be working from home than those with no qualifications.
They were, therefore, the most likely to become directly involved in their children's schooling through teaching them directly or actively supporting them.
In contrast, parents/carers without a degree reported lower levels of confidence in managing home-education, and reported simply "monitoring" their children.
The survey also highlighted particular challenges faced by essential workers.
Dr Noel Purdy from Stranmllis said the survey took place early in the lockdown period and teachers had grown in confidence since.
The experience had not been the same for all children, he told the committee, and added that "a minority have enjoyed and thrived during lockdown".
However, three in five parents had claimed that their children's level of motivation to learn had become worse while home schooling.
When schools reopen in August, there will be a `blended' approach which will involve a mix of online and face-to-face learning.
Sinn Féin committee member Catherine Kelly asked how blended learning would work for children in early years.
Glenda Walsh from Stranmillis said there should be more play-related activities and limited screen time.
"We don't want our young children sitting in front of a screen for the most part of the day," she said.
"We want our young children learning actively."
