site.btaSt John of Rila Awards Conferred on High-Performing School Principals

St John of Rila Awards Conferred on High-Performing School Principals
St John of Rila Awards Conferred on High-Performing School Principals
Education and Science Minister Georgi Valchev (centre) and the winners of the annual St John of Rila Awards, Rila Monastery, Southwestern Bulgaria, May 11, 2026 (BTA Photo/Yaroslav Stavrev)

The Ministry of Education and Science on Monday presented its annual St John of Rila Awards honouring school principals who have achieved high results in their work and contributed to the development of Bulgarian education. The ceremony took place at the Rila Monastery.

The awards are traditionally presented on May 11, which, according to the Old (Julian) Calendar, is the feast day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, who devised the oldest-known Slav alphabet in the 9th century.

This year's winners are Milen Nakov from the Petko Rachev Slaveykov Centre for Special Educational Support in Pleven; Zlatina Katelieva from the Sava Mladenov National Vocational School of Forestry and Wood Processing in Teteven; and Marieta Petrova from the Geo Milev School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in Stara Zagora. The award includes a certificate, an icon of St John of Rila, and a cash prize of EUR 1,534.

Presenting the awards, Education and Science Minister Georgi Valchev said: "On days like today, in the heart of the Holy Rila Monastery, it is very important to express our respect to colleagues working in our education system. As we say, the best among the best." He noted that the award was established in 2006 and is recognition of the efforts of those who dedicate heart and soul to the development of education in Bulgaria.

/RY/

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By 12:07 on 25.05.2026 Today`s news

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