Lilia Butnari, a chemistry teacher of the Balti Lyceum “M. Eminescu”, became Professor of the Year 2013, Lilia Tighineanu, of the Balti primary school No. 21, was named the Teacher of the Year, while Ecaterina Bratescu, of the Orhei kindergarten No. 8 was designated as the Educator of the Year. The prizes were handed over in a festivity at the National Philharmonic “Sergey Lunkevich” in the evening of October 3, IPN reports.

The three laureates received by 50,000 lei and were promoted to the next teaching rank. In the festivity there were also offered 18 diplomas of the first rank to teachers who achieved special results during the academic year. The prizes were handed over by Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and Minister of Education Maia Sandu.

The contest Teacher of the Year 2013 was held in three stages - local, district/municipal and national. It involved 1,200 teachers. The contest commission at the final stage consisted of 21 members, including doctors in teaching and teachers of senior teaching rank.

Maia Sandu said the teachers are those who can accelerate the reform in the education system, can motivate the children and students to change their attitude to the education process and to attend the kindergarten, school or university with pleasure

Iurie Leanca said that education for a democratic government represents a priority as this sector helps every child to develop. The students are the social-human capital of society, while the government’s duty is to invest in the quality of teachers and managers of education institutions.

Teacher of the Year Lilia Tighineanu said that this contest enabled her to enter a healthy competition with all her colleagues. “This prize is a pride for me,” she stated.

There are about 55,000 teachers in the education system at present.