Providing Opportunities for Vulnerable Children Through Education Program (PVCEP)

The Protection through Vocational and Educational Choices Project (PVCEP), implemented by Save the Children in Bangladesh (SCiBD) in partnership with Karmajibi Kallyan Sangstha (KKS) and Mukti Mahila Samity (MMS), has been working since 1995 to address the severe marginalization of children born into brothel communities in Daulatdia and Faridpur. This end-line evaluation, conducted in 2024 ahead of the project’s planned phase-out in December, assesses the project’s effectiveness in improving education access, early childhood development, and overall child well-being. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 590 respondents across both regions.

The evaluation revealed remarkable progress: access to education for children aged 3–16 reached 95.9%, while literacy and numeracy rates across Grades 1–5 surpassed 90%. Dropout rates in primary education dropped to 0%, and 100% of secondary students continued their education. Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) awareness among mothers rose to 97.4%, with over 91% of children aged 5–11 achieving key developmental milestones. However, challenges remain, including a 10.53% dropout rate at the secondary level, disparities in ECCD outcomes between brothel and mainstream communities, and limited community feedback engagement.

The evaluation recommends strengthening secondary education retention through targeted support, enhancing teacher capacity for remedial learning, and improving accountability mechanisms. It highlights the need for sustained caregiver training and infrastructure development to maintain progress.

Given the project’s transformative impact, discontinuation risks reversing the achievements made among the most vulnerable populations. Therefore, extending PVCEP is essential to preserve developmental gains, enhance community resilience, and ensure the long-term well-being and empowerment of marginalized children in Daulatdia and Faridpur.