The "Second Chance" program is addressed to adolescents, young people, and adults from diverse social backgrounds and of varying ages who have not attended or completed primary and lower secondary education. The program offers these categories of people the possibility to continue and complete mandatory 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 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 program Second Chance – primary education:

• 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 program Second Chance – lower secondary education:

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

or:

• have completed part of the grades corresponding to lower secondary education (V, VI, or VII), 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 learners and encourage them to complete it, to offer more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, but also the necessary support to all those involved, through training programs for teaching staff and educational materials for learners and teachers. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and a credit system for basic education, evaluation, certification, and recognition of previously acquired competencies by learners, 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 follow to develop competencies, as a result of participating in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts and 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 be held according to several schedule options (in the afternoon or evening during the week, Saturdays, or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of students and teachers. Individual consultation hours are planned for the students.

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

Graduates have the right to continue their studies, according to 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 complete 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 a chance for another tomorrow.