content: <PAGE>
   
  ================================================================================
  
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                                    FORM 8-K
  
                                 CURRENT REPORT
  
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
                                DECEMBER 10, 1998
          ------------------------------------------------------------
                Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)
  
  
                        CBT GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
      REPUBLIC OF IRELAND              0-25674             NOT APPLICABLE
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File       (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation or               Number)           Identification No.)
        organization)
  
  
                              900 CHESAPEAKE DRIVE
                         REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA 94063
          ------------------------------------------------------------
                    (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
  
  
       Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (650) 817-5900
   
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  
  
  
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  <PAGE>
   
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
           On December 10, 1998, CBT Group PLC issued the press release attached
  hereto as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
           ---------------------------------
  
           (a)   Not Applicable
  
           (b)   Not Applicable
  
           (c)   Exhibits.   The following exhibit is being filed herewith.
  
                 (99.1)   Press Release, dated December 10, 1998.
  <PAGE>
   
            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its
  behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  
  
  
  Dated: December 10, 1998            CBT GROUP PLC
  
  
                                      /s/ Elizabeth K. Roemer
                                      -----------------------
                                      Elizabeth K. Roemer
                                      Vice President and
                                      General Counsel
  <PAGE>
   
                                  CBT GROUP PLC
                            EXHIBIT INDEX TO FORM 8-K
  
  
         Exhibit
  
         (99.1)     Press Release, dated December 10, 1998
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2859}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CBT GROUP PLC", "cik": "0000940181", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "000000000", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-25674", "film-number": "98768353"}, "business-address": {"street1": "900 CHESAPEAKE DRIVE", "city": "REDWOOD CITY", "state": "CA", "zip": "94063", "phone": "650-817-5900"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "900 CHESAPEAKE DRIVE", "city": "REDWOOD CITY", "zip": "94063"}}
text: ================================================================================
  
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                                    FORM 8-K
  
                                 CURRENT REPORT
  
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
                                DECEMBER 10, 1998
          ------------------------------------------------------------
                Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)
  
                        CBT GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  
      REPUBLIC OF IRELAND              0-25674             NOT APPLICABLE
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File       (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation or               Number)           Identification No.)
        organization)
  
                              900 CHESAPEAKE DRIVE
                         REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA 94063
          ------------------------------------------------------------
                    (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
  
       Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (650) 817-5900
   
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  
  ================================================================================
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
           On December 10, 1998, CBT Group PLC issued the press release attached
  hereto as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
           ---------------------------------
  
           (a)   Not Applicable
  
           (b)   Not Applicable
  
           (c)   Exhibits.   The following exhibit is being filed herewith.
  
                 (99.1)   Press Release, dated December 10, 1998.
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its
  behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Dated: December 10, 1998            CBT GROUP PLC
  
                                      /s/ Elizabeth K. Roemer
                                      -----------------------
                                      Elizabeth K. Roemer
                                      Vice President and
                                      General Counsel
  CBT GROUP PLC
                            EXHIBIT INDEX TO FORM 8-K
  
         Exhibit
  
         (99.1)     Press Release, dated December 10, 1998