THE Irish Times is sponsoring an in the classroom package to be used by second level senior cycle business students from September next.

The Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach, welcoming the development, said she had "every confidence" that The Irish Times Business 2000 education pack would be of "tremendous benefit" to teachers involved in teaching the new business course.

The new Leaving Certificate course would begin this September, with the first Leaving Certificate exam in the subject to take place in June, 1999. It replaces the old business organisation course and will be practical, integrated and vocationally orientated.

It would allow students take examples from their personal lives and public life and apply these to the wider business environment. The course aims to encourage a positive attitude towards enterprise in the students' personal, public and business lives.

The Irish Times Business 2000 pack would be made up of 40 to 50 case studies where well known companies address issues covered by the syllabus. The contents of the pack would be curriculum led so as to be of maximum benefit to students.

Among the companies and organisations signed up for the project are AIB, Eircell, ESB, TSB, Primark, Ryans Hotels, Stena Line, Forbairt and the Irish Trade Board.

Although primarily aimed at Leaving Certificate business students, the pack would also be of interest to transition year students and students of economics.

The A3 pack would include: full colour laminated case studies including project assignments; a CD ROM containing company profiles, case studies and project work for students; a teachers' guide; a curriculum matrix illustrating how each case study links directly with curriculum topics; an Irish Times business news guide; and a teachers' questionnaire/help desk.

From September The Irish Times is to run articles linked to the course which could be used in the classroom. There may also be involvement on the Irish Times web site.

The Irish Times Business 2000 pack is to be distributed free of charge to all of the more than 800 second level schools in the country, providing an opportunity for the companies taking part in the project to communicate directly with more than 120,000 students.

The project is being funded through each of the companies submitting a case study, paying a fee, and through sponsorship from The Irish Times and the Department of Education.

Ms Breathnach said the flexibility that existed in relation to how a school went about teaching a particular subject, meant teachers could choose to use an initiative such as The Irish Times Business 2000 pack if they so wished.

The Primark case study would illustrate how the company went about preparing for opening its flagship outlet in the premises on O'Connell Street, Dublin, which it bought from BHS.

"The company would see itself as having a role in being supportive of schools," said a spokeswoman. "The students could be customers and there is a bit of self interest involved in promoting our name. But self interest would not be our main driving force."

Mr Michael Dooley, of AIB Business Banking, said the AIB case study would show how the bank uses modern management techniques to examine market issues and develop strategies to address them.

"We see involvement (in Irish Times Business 2000) as playing our part in maintaining the quality of young Irish students, who are essential for the continued success of the Irish economy."

Companies interested in participating in the project should contact: Irish Times Business Project 2000, Anna Gethings, (01) 661 8866.