Letter: Learning for life

Sir: Susan Bassnett's excellent piece ("Students are trappped on a treadmill of endless exams", 19 August) points to the danger of the exam treadmill. This is not the way to lay a foundation for lifelong learning. In fact, it squeezes the life out of learning motivation.

In any case, it's time to stop the mounting annual hysteria over A-level results, and not just because of the stress it causes to all concerned. The media coverage (pictures as much as text) reinforces the view that the passage from school to university is the single road to success. Anyone who does not squeeze through is doomed for life to second- class citizenship.

Of course, this has some truth in it. But this does not mean that we should be continually making it a self-fulfilling prophesy. Many young people, including the academically most gifted, would be much better off opting not to go straight on to higher education, but to gain substantial life experience first.

Most universities try to enable this. But they are not helped by media coverage which suggests that educational futures are all determined at age 18.

Professor TOM SCHULLER

London WC1