The “Second Chance” program is addressed to adolescents, young people, adults 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 their professional or family activities in which they are involved.

The program is structured on two levels: Second Chance – Primary Education and Second Chance – Lower Secondary Education – the latter also having a component of professional training.

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 class and who are in the following situations:

For the Second Chance – primary education program:

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

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

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

or:

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

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, designed to motivate students and make them complete it, to offer more autonomy to schools concerning its implementation, as well as the necessary support for all involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for students and teachers. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and the credit system for basic education, evaluation, certification and recognition of skills previously acquired by students, provision of an individualized preparation program.

Enrollment in the Second Chance program can take place, every year, in two sessions: October and February.

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

Learning will take place in small groups (8-15 students in each class). Courses may take place in various timetables (during the week in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the students and the teachers. Individual consultation hours are scheduled at the students' disposal.

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