Teachers in the capital’s schools have competed for the final stage of the municipal contest “The Pedagogue of the Year 2007”. Professors, teachers and educators have participated in the four categories of the contest. The event has been held on Tuesday afternoon (February 20) in the precincts of the National Theatre “M. Eminescu” and lasted for about four hours. Thus, according to the curricular area – the teaching language, Natalia Grau, professor of Romanian language at “Gh. Asachi” Lyceum and Ala Popov, professor of Russian language at "V. Lupu” Lyceum have been nominated as best professors. Natalia Halaim, teacher of biology at “V. Lupu” Lyceum won in mathematics and sciences. Angela Cutasevici at “Gh. Asachi” Lyceum was designated as best teacher, while Marcela Galca at the kindergarten no. 225 - as best educator. The winners of the contest’s final stage were awarded 10,000 lei each, the rest of participants – diplomas, money prizes and medals. The contest “The Pedagogue of the Year” has been held twice, in 2001 and 2002, only at municipal level. This year it is for the first time when the contest will be organised at republican level, according to a Government’s decision. The winners of the municipal contest’s final stage are to compete with other teaching staffs in the country. According to data from Education, Science, Youth and Sports Division, there are about 12,000 teachers in Chisinau municipality.