We always stress to our students that learning isn’t for the exams. Education is important because it moulds our character and also offers us skills which are applicable throughout our lives.
Science and maths are not redundant subjects which “you don’t use when you are an adult.” An excellent command of languages will always leave a good impression on others, regardless how old we are. When students understand why the stuff they learn is useful in life, they are more motivated and more interested as well.
U.S.’s SAT, the entrance exam to some of the best universities in the world, is also repositioning itself so that questions are based on “real-world applications” of maths, reading and science. That’s a great start!