Moldova awards top educators at Teacher of the Year gala
Twelve Moldovan educators received national honors and cash prizes at the annual "Teacher of the Year 2026" gala in Chișinău on Saturday, recognizing pedagogical excellence across preschool, primary, and secondary education.
The ceremony, held at the Palace of the Republic on National Teachers' Day, also awarded honorary diplomas to 14 other finalists. First-prize laureates received €2,490 (approx. 50,000 MDL) each, while second- and third-place winners received €1,245 and €745, respectively.
Rigorous national selection
Finalists advanced through institutional, district, and republican selection phases. In the final round, educators were evaluated on managing complex pedagogical scenarios, delivering an unannounced lesson to unfamiliar students, and holding a professional masterclass.
Anna Mogorean, from the "Prichindel" Early Education Institution in Drăgănești, Sângerei district, won first prize for Preschool Educator of the Year. Diana Agachi of Bălți took second place, and Eugenia Gangan of Glodeni placed third.
In the Primary School Teacher of the Year category, Adriana Pană from the "Alecu Russo" Theoretical Lyceum in Orhei secured first place. Anastasia Crudu of the Pașcani Gymnasium in Criuleni district and Lilia Lupăcescu of the "Gheorghe Râșcanu" Gymnasium in Râșcani placed second and third.
Strategic focus on education
Attending the gala, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan reaffirmed the government's commitment to public schooling, calling education an enduring state priority.
“We rely on you to raise curious people who possess critical thinking, who can distinguish between truth and falsehood, between right and wrong, and, perhaps most importantly, people of integrity,” said Prime Minister Vasile Tofan. “As long as this government has the honor and privilege to lead this country, education will remain a priority, and investments in this field will continue.”
Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun outlined measures underway to cut red tape and modernize school infrastructure across the country.
“The ministry’s responsibility is to provide you with the conditions and support necessary to do your job well,” said Dan Perciun. “We have eliminated dozens of bureaucratic reports and registers, made over 22,000 teaching projects available to staff, and simplified certification procedures so teachers have more time for what matters most: the children.”
Excellence across disciplines
The Secondary School Teacher of the Year awards recognized educators across three core curricular tracks: Language and Communication, Mathematics and Sciences, and Social Sciences and Humanities.
In Language and Communication, first prize went to Romanian language and literature teacher Elena Voloc of Chișinău’s "Ion și Doina Aldea-Teodorovici" Arts Lyceum. Victoria Revenco of Soroca took third place.
In Mathematics and Sciences, first prize was awarded to mathematics teacher Maria Cîrnaț from the "Gaudeamus" Theoretical Lyceum in Chișinău. Physics teacher Dumitru Rusnac from Ulmu, Ialoveni, took second place, while Mariana Morari from Criuleni secured third. In Social Sciences and Humanities, Aliona Col from Ceadâr-Lunga earned third prize.
Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei, chairwoman of the parliamentary committee on education, highlighted the role educators play in preparing the younger generation for European integration.
“Teachers are the ones who, day by day, do everything so that our youth can lead this country into a safe zone, into the European Union,” said Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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