A/67/310 do not convert the technical and vocational education and training system into mere commercial ventures. Particular attention should be devoted to ensuring that a multiplicity of learning sites for delivery of technical and vocational education and training programmes in a “virtual learning environment” conform to quality standards, and are subjected to stringent control by public authorities, with sanctions in case of abusive practices. 4. Promote investment in technical and vocational education and training 93. States should ensure that adequate and sustained financial support is available to technical and vocational education and training, recognizing the importance of national investment in this sector. In order to maximize resources available for technical and vocational education and training from diversified sources, States should devise mechanisms with necessary incentives for investments by industry, enterprises, and regional and local bodies. Resources for technical and vocational education and training should also be utilized optimally. 5. Empower women and girls with equal access to technical and vocational education and training 94. States should pay particular attention to the empowerment of women and girls in the provision of technical and vocational education and training, also encouraging them to choose non-traditional fields of education and careers. National policies should seek to eliminate gender stereotypes and barriers to the professional development of women. 6. Make technical and vocational education and training equitably accessible to marginalized groups 95. States should pay particular attention to making technical and vocational education and training accessible to marginalized and vulnerable groups, targeting in particular ethnic and linguistic minorities, persons with disabilities and migrants, and especially those living in poverty. Devoid of equitable approaches, technical and vocational education and training can accentuate prevailing inequities and deprivation to the detriment of the right to education for all. Promoting equity and inclusion through positive measures should be a key factor in the provision of technical and vocational education and training. 7. Ensure quality in the provision of technical and vocational education and training 96. States should ensure a high quality of technical and vocational education and training and adopt necessary quality norms and standards, along with a national qualifications framework and assessment systems for technical and vocational education and training, applicable uniformly throughout the country. They should also develop effective policies aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning. Special consideration should be given to developing policies and frameworks for professionalizing technical and vocational education and training staff, and improving their status, working conditions and career perspectives, with particular attention to instructors in secondary level vocational schools. 12-46486 25