The exam system in England and Wales is close to breakdown, a committee of MPs has warned.

The Commons education committee said that pupils face unacceptable pressures from constant testing, and calls on ministers not to introduce changes to the secondary school exam system for change's sake.

Forum Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Julia Neal, ATL executive committee member for Cornwall and Devon, said: "The situation is untenable. The government must come to its senses and revisit the issue of tuition fees for its public sector workers.

"The future of the teaching profession and the education of young people in our schools and colleges depend on a change of policy.

"The government must reconsider its position and put into place a system for remitting student debts for all those who enter the public sector."

Forum Response: Professional Association of Teachers

A spokesman for the Professional Association of Teachers said: "PAT's 2000 survey, "Tested to destruction", revealed that many young people suffer stress and even illness as a result of examination pressures.

"PAT calculated at the time of the survey that, between school entry and A Levels, some pupils endured at least 75 external assessments, tests and examinations. With AS Levels, this figure is now calculated at over 100.

"Our perception is that many teenagers are being turned off learning. The education and political systems, in a laudable desire to raise standards, appear to value exam results above all else and to the exclusion of all else.

"Exams are necessary, but they have become too dominant. They increasingly restrict teaching time, cost a great deal of money and cause an unconscionable amount of stress for many of our children. Until we start valuing again the whole, rounded experience of education, these pressures will continue.

"The debate on the future of A Levels must be considered and measured and all the options pursued. Schools, students and parents need time to consolidate, and the government must resist pressures for hasty quick-fix measures to scrap the current system in favour of something else.

"We shouldn't close the door on change, but to have a massive shake-up so soon after a huge amount of change to the system - albeit one with flaws - would be a knee-jerk reaction that would not be to the advantage of students or their teachers. All the partners in education need to be able to learn from the mistakes of the past and improve the system for the future.

"There is already an alternative system - the International Baccalaureate that schools can use if they so wish, and PAT has been following with interest the pilot study in Wales that is looking at a baccalaureate approach. Some students benefit from the broader baccalaureate approach, while others are more suited to the greater specialisation afforded by A Levels."

Forum Response: National Union of Teachers

John Bangs, head of education at the NUT, told ePolitix.com: "The select committee is right. Ministers have produced new test after new test, and new examination after new examination.

"This has led to an exam driven curriculum which undermines learning and drives teachers to despair."