The State Board of Education shall have all necessary authority to cooperate with the federal Department of Health, Education and Welfare in the administration of the act of Congress accepted in Section 16-37-1; to administer any legislation pursuant thereto enacted by the State of Alabama and to administer the funds provided by the federal government and the State of Alabama, under the provisions of this chapter, for the promotion of vocational education in agricultural subjects, trade and industrial subjects and home economics subjects. It shall have full authority to formulate plans for the promotion of vocational education in such subjects as an essential and integral part of the public school system of education in the State of Alabama and to provide for the preparation of teachers of such subjects. It shall have authority to fix the compensation of such officials and assistants as may be necessary to administer the federal act and this chapter for the State of Alabama, and to pay such compensation and other necessary expenses of administration from funds appropriated in this chapter. It shall have authority to make studies and investigations relating to vocational education in such subjects; to promote and aid in the establishment by local communities of schools, departments or classes giving training in such subjects; to cooperate with local communities in the maintenance of such schools, departments or classes; to prescribe qualifications for the teachers, directors and supervisors of such subjects, and to have full authority to provide for the certification of such teachers, directors and supervisors; to cooperate in the maintenance of classes supported and controlled by the public for the preparation of teachers, directors and supervisors of such subjects or to maintain such classes under its own direction and control; to establish and determine by general regulations the qualifications to be possessed by persons engaged in the training of vocational teachers.