The “Second Chance” program is addressed to adolescents, young people, adults, 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 opportunity to continue and complete compulsory education without having to interrupt their 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 professional training component.

There is no upper age limit for those who wish to enroll in this program. The condition is that they are at least 4 years older than the appropriate age for the class and 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 dropped out of primary education – regardless of the time and reasons for dropping out;
• they have not graduated from primary education by the age of 14.

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

• they have graduated compulsory primary education (including through the Second Chance system) but have not continued their education further

or:

• they have completed part of the classes corresponding to secondary education (5th, 6th or 7th grade), but dropped out during this cycle – regardless of the time and reasons for dropping out.

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, so as to motivate trainees and encourage them to complete it, provide more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, as well as the necessary support for all those involved, through training programs for teaching staff 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 competencies previously acquired by trainees, 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 in order to develop competencies, as a result of participation 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 can be held in several schedule options (in the afternoons or evenings during the week, Saturdays or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the trainees and teachers. Individual consultation hours are planned at the disposal of the students.

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

Graduates have the right to continue their studies, as provided by law, as follows:

Graduates of the Second Chance – primary education program can continue studies in secondary education;

Graduates of the Second Chance – lower secondary education program can continue studies in upper secondary education (the upper cycle of high school) or can take practical training internships, 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 day tomorrow.