The "Second Chance" program is aimed at adolescents, young people, and adults from diverse social backgrounds and of various 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 any professional or family activities they may be involved in.

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 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 abandoned 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 through the Second Chance system) but did not continue further education

or:

• have completed some of the classes 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 determine them to complete it, to offer more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, and also to provide the necessary support to all those involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for learners and for teachers. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and 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 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 ensures a transparent selection of modules that students can take to acquire competencies, as a result of participation in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts and with tasks and topics that address their interests and needs.

Learning will take place in small groups (8-15 students in each class). Courses may be held according to several scheduling options (in the afternoons or evenings during the week, on Saturdays or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the learners and teachers. Individual consultation hours are planned and available to students.

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 the field of basic education and in vocational 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 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 (the upper cycle of high school) or can attend practical training internships, through which they have the possibility to obtain a Level 3 Professional Qualification Certificate.

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