Why is there so much emphasis on learning just to pass an exam and not for life -long learning?

You are so right. Forced learning to pass an exam then forget it completely. Most of the learning I did at school in subjects like history, geography, chemistry etc was forgotten shortly after the exam and of no value in life. You are right its such a waste of young peoples lives. I have been teaching the last few years at Universities and schools and now run week long teacher training courses. I teach what you say-how to motivate the students, learn about life around them, understand themselves and others and learn how to live. The teachers leave inspired and motivated . You are so right. If you are going to teach teach something useful, not how to pass a useless exam.