The Scout Association's Scottish Council warned MSPs last week that Scotland's education policy is failing to recognise the value of the youth sector in offering informal education.
The comments were made in a meeting between the Scottish Parliament's Education Committee, which scrutinises Scottish education policy, and seven other Scottish youth organisations.
James Duffy, chief executive of The Scout Association, said: "We echo the concern of others in the voluntary youth work sector faced with the increasing tendency to devote more time, resources and responsibility to the formal academic education sector.
"Youth work must be given due recognition as an essential component of education provision for young people and not as a Cinderella service."
The committee held the meeting to improve its understanding of the youth work sector.
