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 being forced 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 class and are in the following situations:

For the Second Chance – primary education program:

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

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

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, so as to motivate learners and make them complete it, to offer more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, as well as the necessary support to all those involved, through training programs for teaching staff and educational materials for learners and teachers. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: the modular curriculum and the credit system for basic education, assessment, certification and recognition of competencies previously acquired by learners, provision of 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 ensures a transparent offer of modules that students can follow to develop 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 can be held according to several timetable options (during the week in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the learners and teaching staff. Hours are scheduled 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 reduced for each student individually, depending on the competencies demonstrated, both in the field of basic education and in the field of 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 pursue studies in lower secondary education;

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

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