Primary and second-level teachers could very soon be spending part of the school year working in businesses or industries, as part of a exchange programme between education and industry.

The programme, still at an embryonic stage, is a proposed collaboration between IBEC, the employers' confederation, and the Department of Education. The placements might take the form of a fellowship for the teachers, during which they would have a period of paid secondment in a company. All companies, both large and small, would be considered for the placements, although in practice, larger companies would probably be more anxious to take part. "The idea is to increase understanding between business and education. It is proposed that it would be a national programme, but no details have yet been worked out," one of the people involved in the initial planning said this week.

In the proposed programme, teachers would go into companies, observe and work and with people in different disciplines and bring their subject and teaching experience to the firm involved. The placements would suit career guidance teachers especially, but also would have considerable relevance for people who teach science, computers, maths and food-related subjects.

This idea emerged through continuing contact between IBEC and the Department of Education on the Schools' Business Partnership, on which both organisations co-operate.

The teacher unions and school managers have yet to be consulted for their views on the proposal.