The “Second Chance” program is aimed at adolescents, young people, adults, coming from various social backgrounds and of different ages, who have not attended or have not completed primary and lower secondary education. The program offers these categories of people the possibility 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 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 taken part 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, by the age of 14, from primary education.

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

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

or:

• have completed some 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 learners 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 students and teaching staff. 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 competences previously acquired by students, provision of an individualized training program.

Enrollment in the Second Chance program can be done each 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 competences, 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). Courses can take place according to several schedule options (during the week in the afternoons or evenings, 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 length of schooling (2 years for primary education, 4 years for lower secondary education) can be reduced for each student individually, depending on the competences demonstrated, both in the field of basic education and in the field of 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 cycle of high school) or can undergo practical training stages, after which they have the possibility to also 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 a chance for another tomorrow.