The importance of local management of resources was emphasised by Member States themselves in their response to the Commission's Memorandum on lifelong learning. Efficient decentralisation however calls for new investment in a) the training of local authorities and school administrators and teachers in the management and efficient use of resources; b) the establi
shment of a quality assurance system permeating all levels, i.e. the dissemination of a culture of quality awareness throughout the educational and training system, based on confidence in, and autonomy of local actors working according to a common core of quality standards; the
...[+++]se should in particular ensure that more accountability at school/local level does not jeopardise equity, gender mainstreaming or student participation; and c) a transparent qualification framework encompassing general and vocational qualifications, suited to national needs but also compatible with similar frameworks at the European level (cf. Section 6 below).