The winners of the "Teacher of the Year 2019" Contest were awarded prizes on Friday, October 4, during a celebration ceremony dedicated to the Professional Day of Education Workers, which was held at the "Nicolae Sulac" National Palace. The event was attended by almost two thousand teachers from the educational institutions of the country, IPN reports.

A Government’s press release says that in "Teacher of the year" category prizes were received by Anton Dorofeev, teacher of biology at "Mihai Marinciuc" Theoretical High School in Chisinau; Ștefan Bejan, teacher of history at "Mihai Eminescu" Theoretical High School in Comrat and Dina Ciofu, teacher of Romanian language and literature at "Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu" Theoretical High School in Balti.

At the same time, in the "Schoolteacher of the Year" category, prizes have been awarded to Doina Gliga from "Ion Luca Caragiale" Theoretical High School in Orhei; Mariana Grecu from "Mihai Eminescu" Theoretical High School in Slobozia Mare village, Cahul and Valentina Metlițcaia from "Mihail Guboglo" Theoretical High School in Ceadâr Lunga.

Also, in the "Educator of the year" category, prizes have been awarded to Aurelia Muntean from "Licurici" early childhood education institution of Ialoveni; Valentina Moscalu from "Guguță" early childhood education institution of Râșcani town and Diana Tomșa from "Spiriduș" early childhood education institution in Chisinau.

"I hope we can make schools more welcoming for our children and youths, and not just in big cities. I hope that through you the school can bring parents and grandparents closer, and they will leave their children and grandchildren at school, being certain that they will make progress there," said Prime Minister Maia Sandu, attending the event.

"The most important people in this country are people who are dedicated to education, they are educators, teachers and education managers. I call on the young generation to embrace the teaching profession and to become those important people who can change the lives of other people”, said the minister of Education, Culture and Research, Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei.

The “Teacher of the Year” competition is held with the aim of increasing the prestige of the pedagogical profession, stimulating its creative activity, promoting advanced and innovative experience, as well as motivating the teachers to self-training and continuous training.