The “Second Chance” program is addressed to adolescents, young people, and adults from diverse social backgrounds and 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 in which they are engaged.

For the Second Chance – primary education program:

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

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

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

or:

• they have completed some of the classes corresponding to lower secondary education (grades 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 encourage them to complete it, provide schools with greater autonomy regarding its implementation, as well as the necessary support for all involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for learners and teachers. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced into the educational process, such as: the modular curriculum and credit system for basic education, assessment, certification and recognition of previously acquired competences 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 take to develop competences, as a result of participating in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts and with tasks and topics that respond to their interests and needs.

Learning will take place in small groups (8–15 students in each class). Courses can be held according to several scheduling options (weekday afternoons or evenings, Saturdays, or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the learners and the teaching staff. Hours for individual consultations are planned and available for students.

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

Graduates have the right to continue their studies, according to legal provisions, as follows:

Graduates of the Second Chance – primary education program may pursue studies in lower secondary education;

Graduates of the Second Chance – lower secondary education program may pursue studies in upper secondary education (upper cycle of high school) or may complete 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 achievement, but the chance of another tomorrow.