The "Second Chance" program is aimed at adolescents, young people, and adults from diverse social backgrounds and varying ages who have not attended or completed primary and lower secondary education. The program offers these categories of people the possibility to continue and complete mandatory education without having to interrupt any professional or family activities they may be engaged in.

The program is structured at two levels: Second Chance - primary education and Second Chance - lower secondary education – the latter also including a professional 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 find themselves in the following situations:

For the Second Chance - primary education program:

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

For the Second Chance - lower secondary education program:

• they have completed mandatory primary education (including in the Second Chance system) but did not continue their education further

or:

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

The Second Chance program is flexible, so as to motivate learners to complete it, to offer schools more autonomy in its implementation, and to provide the necessary support to everyone involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for both learners and teaching staff. Through the program, innovative elements were introduced in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and the credit system for basic education, the evaluation, certification, and recognition of competencies acquired previously by learners, and the provision of individualized training programs.

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 follow to develop skills, 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). Classes can be held in various time slots (on weekdays in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays, or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the learners and teaching staff. Individual consultation hours are planned and available to students.

The program has a flexible duration. The average schooling period (2 years for primary education, and 4 years for lower secondary education) can be shortened for each student individually, depending on proven skills, both in basic education and professional training.

Graduates are entitled 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 secondary school cycle) or can undergo practical training stages, after which they may also obtain a level 3 professional qualification certificate.

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