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We would like to point out to your correspondent Terry Hyland (THES, February 16) that the National Council for Vocational Qualifications welcomes the reports and studies which provide a critique of National Vocational Qualifications. These qualifications were designed to meet the needs of employment in a workplace changing on a worldwide scale.

The Beaumont review of 100 NVQs, commissioned to evaluate and report on these qualifications' effectiveness, states that 80 per cent of respondents support the concept, listing such benefits as improved performance, preparedness for future work, improved quality of goods and services.

Because NCVQ and the Department for Education and Employment take note of any well-founded and robust research, this country has a modern system of qualifications that the British Council is seeking to market successfully. In developing and implementing an NVQ-type system Mexico is joining a growing list of countries who see the need to adapt to meet changing environments.

JOHN HILLIER Chief executive, NCVQ PETER MACKENZIE-SMITH Director, export promotion, British Council