The “Second Chance” program is addressed to adolescents, young people, adults, coming from diverse social backgrounds and of various ages, who have not attended or have not completed primary and secondary education. The program offers these categories of people the possibility to continue and complete 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 exceeded by at least 4 years the age corresponding to the class and who are in the following situations:

For the Second Chance – primary education program:

• they have not participated at all in formal - school education;
• they were enrolled, but abandoned primary education – regardless of when and why they abandoned;
• they did not graduate primary education by the age of 14.

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

• they graduated compulsory primary education (including in the Second Chance system) but did not continue their education

or:

• they graduated some of the classes corresponding to lower secondary education (V, VI or VII), but abandoned school during this education cycle – regardless of when and why they abandoned.

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, so as to motivate trainees and get them to complete it, to give schools more autonomy regarding its implementation, but also the necessary support for everyone involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for trainees and teachers. 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 competences previously acquired by the trainees, ensuring an individualized training program.

Enrollment in the Second Chance program can be done every 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 competences, as a result of participation 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 take place 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 trainees and teaching staff. Individual consultation hours are planned at the students’ disposal.

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, depending on the competences 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 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 undertake practical training periods, after which they have the opportunity to also obtain a professional qualification Certificate level 3.

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