The “Second Chance” program is aimed at adolescents, young people, and adults from diverse social backgrounds and various 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 their possible 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 vocational training component.

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

For the program Second Chance – primary education:

• have not participated at all in formal – school education;
• were enrolled but dropped out of primary education – regardless of the moment and reasons for dropping out;
• have not graduated from primary education by the age of 14.

For the program Second Chance – lower secondary education:

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

or:

• have completed part of the lower secondary school grades (V, VI or VII), but dropped out during this cycle of education – regardless of the moment and reasons for dropping out.

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, so as to motivate learners and determine them to complete it, to offer more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, but also the necessary support for everyone involved, through training programs for teaching staff and educational materials for trainees and teachers. Through this program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and the credit system for basic education, assessment, certification, and recognition of previously acquired competences by learners, ensuring an individualized training program.

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

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

Learning will take place in small groups (8-15 students in each class). Courses can take place according to several scheduling options (on weekdays in the afternoon or in the 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, respectively 4 years for lower secondary education) can be shortened for each student individually, depending on the competences demonstrated, both in basic education and in vocational training.

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

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

Graduates of the Second Chance Program – lower secondary education can continue their studies in upper secondary education (upper cycle of high school) or can complete practical training stages, after which they have the possibility to obtain a Level 3 professional qualification certificate.

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