The “Second Chance” program is aimed at adolescents, young people, and adults, coming from diverse social backgrounds and of various ages, who have not attended or completed primary and lower secondary education. The program offers these categories of people the possibility to continue and finish compulsory education without being forced 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 must have exceeded by at least 4 years the age corresponding to the class 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 completed primary education by the age of 14.

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

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

or:

• have completed part of the classes 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 learners and determine them to finish it, to offer more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, and 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 the credit system for basic education, evaluation, certification and recognition of competencies previously acquired by learners, ensuring an individualized training program.

Enrollment in the Second Chance program can take place every 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 follow to develop competencies, as a result of participating in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts 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 be conducted 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 learners and teaching staff. Hours are planned for individual consultations 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 shortened for each student, depending on the proven competencies, both in the field of basic education and in vocational training.

Graduates have the right to continue their studies, according to legal provisions, 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 level of high school) or can undertake practical training stages, after which they have the possibility to also obtain a level 3 Vocational Qualification Certificate.

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