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In reply to the Association of Colleges' criticisms of National Union of Students' support for further education students ("NUS votes for greater openness", THES, March 26), the NUS undertakes a wide portfolio of individual FE student hardship casework. It has trained countless students, students' unions and even some FE college senior managers.

The AoC has done very little to support its members' training needs and has been the main obstacle to the representation of FE students on colleges' governing bodies.

At our conference, we confirmed our call for the extension of the educational maintenance allowance for all in FE.

Given reports of a roasting of the AoC by the Commons Public Accounts Committee over accountability and representation ("MPs slam college 'oligarchies'", THES, March 26), it would be wise for the AoC to consider the old adage: People in glass housesI Andrew Pakes National president, NUS Mark Atkinson Vice-president elect, further education union development