Children at one of Bermuda's smallest public schools, St. David's Primary, are to reap the benefits of a surprise $5,000 donation.

Principal Edward Wright said the cash gift from international insurance company, Chubb Atlantic Indemnity, was especially generous since there was no direct link with the school.

He said funds raised by the school were usually very limited so this money was a "boost in the arm'' and had enabled the school to introduce a whole new English Enrichment programme.

It will help Primary One, Two and Three students start reading at as early an age as possible.

"It is an early intervention programme and it has been shown to be the most effective way to improve literacy,'' Mr. Wright told The Royal Gazette .

"We are addressing literacy, which is a problem throughout the world as reading skills become increasingly important. "As everybody becomes more reliant on technology it is vital that people are extremely literate. And this is what we are trying to ensure with this programme.'' Mr. Wright, the principal at the east-end school for 16 years, said it corporate businesses in Hamilton usually only made such donations to prominent private schools.

"I hope this generous donation will prompt some other schools not to look at those schools which are well sponsored already.'' On Wednesday Chubb president, Chris Longo, was able to meet some of the children who will benefit directly from the new programme.

Mr. Longo said Chubb was approached by a mother with two children at the school who suggested a donation to help the youngest students learn to read.

At least part of the donation has already gone toward the purchase of new books for the school.

"It fit in with (our) decision to contribute to local education,'' he said.

"We are committed to having a growing long-term presence on the Island and obviously with that in mind, having a highly skilled workforce is important not just for Chubb but also for Bermuda.'' He said making the grant to St. David's Primary appealed to the company's sense of community commitment; students there, he said, did not get as much attention as other more centrally located schools.

"They are a great bunch of young people and they seemed to genuinely enjoy reading the new books,'' he said.

"I look forward to the time several years down the track when they will be entering the workforce in Bermuda.''