The “Second Chance” program is aimed at adolescents, young people, adults, from diverse social backgrounds and of various ages, who have not attended or have not completed primary and lower secondary education. The program offers these categories of people the possibility of continuing and completing 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 surpassed by at least 4 years the age corresponding to the grade 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, by the age of 14, from primary education.

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

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, so as to motivate students and determine them to complete it, to offer 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 students and teaching staff. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced into the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and credit system for basic education, assessment, certification and recognition of competencies previously acquired by students, 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 can have very different levels and expectations. The new program ensures a transparent offer of modules that students can take to develop competencies, 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 may be held following several schedule options (during the week in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the students and the teaching staff. Individual consultation hours are planned, available to students.

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, depending on the competencies demonstrated, both in basic education and 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 can continue their studies in lower secondary education;

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

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