The “Second Chance” program is addressed to adolescents, young people, and adults from diverse social backgrounds and various ages who have not attended or completed primary and lower secondary education. The program offers these categories of people the opportunity to continue and complete mandatory education without having to interrupt any 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 surpassed by at least 4 years the age corresponding to the class and fall into the following situations:

For the Second Chance – primary education program:

• have not participated at all in formal – school – education;
• were enrolled but abandoned primary education – regardless of the moment and reasons for abandonment;
• did not graduate, by the age of 14, from primary education.

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

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

or:

• have graduated from part of the classes corresponding to lower secondary education (V, VI or VII), but abandoned school during this education cycle – regardless of the moment and reasons for abandonment.

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, so as to motivate students and make them complete it, to offer more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, and also the necessary support to all those involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for students and for teachers. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and the credit system for basic education, the evaluation, certification and recognition of previously acquired competencies by students, the provision of an individualized training program.

Enrollment in the Second Chance program can be done, every year, in two sessions: October and February.

The 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 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). The courses can take place according to several schedule options (during the week in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the students and the teachers. Hours for individual consultations at the students’ disposal are planned.

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

Graduates have the right to continue their studies, according to the legal provisions, as follows:

Graduates of the Second Chance – primary education Program can continue their studies in lower secondary education;

Graduates of the Second Chance – lower secondary education Program can continue their studies in upper secondary education (upper cycle of high school) or can participate in practical training stages, after which they have the possibility to obtain a Level 3 vocational qualification certificate as well.

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