The “Second Chance” program is addressed to adolescents, young people, adults, coming from various social backgrounds and of different ages, who have not attended or have not completed primary and lower secondary education. The program offers these categories of people the possibility to continue and complete compulsory education without having to interrupt any professional or family activities in which they are engaged.

The program is structured on two levels: Second Chance – primary education and Second Chance – lower secondary education – the latter also having a professional training component.

There is no upper age limit for those who wish to enroll in this program. The condition is that they have exceeded by at least 4 years the age corresponding to the grade and who are in the following situations:

For the program Second Chance – primary education:

• did not participate at all in formal – school education;
• were enrolled but abandoned primary education – regardless of the time and reasons for dropping out;
• did not graduate, by the age of 14, from primary education.

For the program Second Chance – lower secondary education:

• have graduated from compulsory primary education (including through the Second Chance system) but did not continue their education further

or:

• have completed part of the classes corresponding to lower secondary education (5th, 6th or 7th grade), but abandoned school during this educational cycle – regardless of the time and reasons for dropping out.

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, in order to motivate learners and determine them to complete it, to provide more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, as well as the necessary support for all those involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for learners and teachers. Through the program, innovative elements were introduced into the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and credit system for basic education, assessment, certification and recognition of competences previously acquired by learners, ensuring an individualized training program.

Enrollment in the Second Chance program can be done each year in two sessions: October and February.

The students enrolled in the program can have very different levels and expectations. The new program provides a transparent offer of modules that students can take to develop competences as a result of participating in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts and with tasks and topics that respond to their interests and needs.

Learning will take place in small groups (8-15 students in each class). Courses can be held according to several schedule options (on weekdays in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the learners and teachers. Hours are planned for individual consultations available to students.

The program has a flexible duration. The average schooling duration (2 years for primary education, 4 years for lower secondary education) can be shortened for each student individually, depending on proven competences, both in the field of basic education and professional training.

Graduates have the right to continue their studies, according to the provisions of the law, as follows:

Graduates of the Second Chance Program – primary education can pursue studies in lower secondary education;

Graduates of the Second Chance Program – lower secondary education can pursue studies in upper secondary education (upper cycle of high school) or can undertake practical training stages, after which they also have the possibility to obtain a level 3 professional qualification Certificate.

For young people in the program, the graduation certificate will not only represent personal success, but the opportunity for another tomorrow.