The “Second Chance” program is aimed at adolescents, young people, and adults from various social backgrounds and of different ages who did not attend or did not complete 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 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 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:

• did not participate at all in formal – school – education;
• were enrolled but dropped out of primary education – regardless of the timing and reasons for dropping out;
• 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 through Second Chance) but did not continue their education further

or:

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

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, designed to motivate students and lead them to completion, to offer more autonomy to schools in terms of implementation, but also the necessary support to all those involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for students and teaching staff. Through this program, innovative elements have been introduced into the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and a credit system for basic education, the evaluation, certification, and recognition of competences previously acquired by students, as well as ensuring an individualized training program.

Enrollment in the Second Chance program can take place 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 attend to develop competences, as a result of participation in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts, 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 can be held in several timetable options (weekdays in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays, or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the students and teachers. Individual consultation hours are scheduled at students’ disposal.

The program has a flexible duration. The average length of schooling (2 years for primary education, 4 years for lower secondary education) can be shortened individually for each student, depending on demonstrated competences, both in basic education and vocational training.

Graduates have the right to continue their studies, according to legal provisions, 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 take part in practical training stages 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.