The “Second Chance” program is aimed at adolescents, young people, and 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 they are engaged in.

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 by at least 4 years the age corresponding to the grade and 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 leaving;
• did not graduate from 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 did not continue their education further

or:

• have graduated from some of the lower secondary grades (V, VI or VII), but dropped out of school during this cycle of education – regardless of the time and reasons for leaving.

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, in order to motivate learners and encourage them to complete it, to give more autonomy to schools in its implementation, but also to provide the necessary support to all those involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for learners and teaching staff. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and credit system for basic education, assessment, certification, and recognition of competencies previously acquired by learners, ensuring an individualized training program.

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

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

Learning will take place in small groups (8-15 students in each class). Classes may take place according to various schedules (weekdays in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays, or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the learners and teachers. Hours for individual consultations are planned and available to students.

The program has a flexible duration. The average schooling period (of 2 years for primary education, respectively 4 years for lower secondary education) can be shortened for each student, depending on the skills demonstrated, both in basic education and in vocational 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 may continue their studies in lower secondary education;

Graduates of the Second Chance Program – lower secondary education may continue their studies in upper secondary education (the upper cycle of high school) or may complete practical training courses, after which they may also obtain a level 3 vocational qualification certificate.

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