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

The program is structured on 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 are in the following situations:

For the Second Chance – primary education program:

• have not participated at all in formal – school – education;
• were enrolled but dropped out of primary education – regardless of the time and reasons for dropping out;
• have not graduated from primary education by the age of 14.

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

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

or:

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

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, so as to motivate students and determine them to complete it, to offer more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, but also the necessary support for all those involved, through training programs for teaching staff and educational materials for both students and teachers. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced into the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and credit system for basic education, assessment, certification, and recognition of prior acquired competencies, 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 may have very different levels and expectations. The new program provides a transparent offer of modules that students can attend to acquire competencies, as a result of participating in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts, with tasks and projects 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 scheduling options (weekday afternoons or evenings, Saturdays, or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the students and teachers. Hours for individual consultations at the disposal of students are planned.

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

Graduates are entitled to continue their studies, according to the provisions of the law, as follows:

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

Graduates of the Second Chance Program – lower secondary education may continue their studies in upper secondary education (high school upper cycle) or may take 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 also the chance for another tomorrow.