The Role of the Teacher in Georgia: From Ancient Times to the Present

This paper examines the historical evolution of the teacher's role in Georgia, spanning from ancient times to the present day. The study aims to explore the forms of knowledge transmission, the specific characteristics of how education was organized, and the shifts in the social purpose of the teacher across various stages of historical development. Particular attention is given to the development of education following the spread of Christianity, medieval educational centers, the 19th-century Georgian national-educational movement, the pedagogical legacy of Iakob Gogebashvili, the Soviet-era education system, and the educational landscape of independent Georgia. Furthermore, the paper presents a comparative analysis of Iakob Gogebashvili’s pedagogical work and the professional functions of the contemporary teacher. The research is based on historicaldescriptive, chronological, comparative-historical, and sourcecritical methods. It utilizes bibliographic data regarding the first edition of Iakob Gogebashvili’s *Deda Ena* ("Mother Tongue"), material from the *Encyclopedia of Georgia* concerning the Gelati Academy, contemporary studies on the history of education in Georgia, and documents regulating the professional activities of teachers. The study demonstrates that the forms of a teacher’s work and their social functions have evolved historically; however, the significance of transmitting knowledge, fostering individual development, and preserving cultural heritage remains highly relevant