School principals, parents, employers and youth groups have expressed serious concern that many students will not return to school from their summer jobs.
In a joint statement the groups have called on students who take on part-time work in the summer "not to do so at the expense of their education". They said such an appeal was necessary because of the huge number of jobs currently available to young people.
"Although part-time and summer work can be hugely beneficial experiences for young people, work must be balanced against the greater priority, which is education," said the groups.
"Their interests and those of the economy in general are better served in the long term by students staying in education to complete, at a minimum, their Leaving Certificate," they added.
Their intervention comes at a time when the Government has expressed concern at the numbers leaving school to take up jobs. According to Department of Education figures, about 20 per cent of those who enter second-level schooling do not stay to take their Leaving Certificate. It is estimated that many early school-leavers are opting for jobs instead. The joint statement was released by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, the National Parents Council (post-primary), the National Youth Council and IBEC, the employers' body.
Mr Brendan Butler, director of social policy at IBEC, said it would encourage employers to "take a medium to long-term view" in relation to students in the workplace.
"We would hope employers would encourage students to go back to school, maybe give them some part-time work instead. If they go back to school it will be better in the end," he said.
He added that it was IBEC's policy to encourage students to finish their Leaving Certificate.
He said many students were working, not so they could give money to their family, but to finance "a certain lifestyle" which often meant spending large amounts on the latest designer labels.
The four groups called for a greater awareness of the terms of the Protection of Young Persons Act, which sets minimum age limits for the employment of young people and prohibits the employment of those under 18 for latenight work.