The “Second Chance” program is addressed to adolescents, young people, adults, coming 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 opportunity to continue and complete compulsory education without having to interrupt any 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 vocational training component.

There is no upper age limit for those who wish to enroll in this program. The condition is that they have surpassed 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;
• have been enrolled, but have dropped out of primary education – regardless of the time and reasons for the dropout;
• have not graduated from 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 have not continued their education further

or:

• have completed part of the classes corresponding to lower secondary education (V, VI or VII), but have dropped out of school during this educational cycle – regardless of the time and reasons for the dropout.

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, so as to motivate students and determine them to complete it, to offer schools greater autonomy regarding its implementation, but also the necessary support for all those involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for both students and teachers. Through this program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and a credit system for basic education, assessment, certification and recognition of skills previously acquired by students, the provision of 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 in order to develop skills, 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). The courses can take place in several scheduling options (during the week in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays or during school holidays etc.) depending on the possibilities of students and teachers. Hours for individual consultations are planned at the disposal of the students.

The program has a flexible duration. The average schooling duration (2 years for primary education, respectively 4 years for lower secondary education) can be reduced for each student individually, depending on the skills 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 the law, as follows:

Graduates of the Second Chance – primary education Program can continue their studies in lower secondary education;

Graduates of the Second Chance – lower secondary education Program 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 Vocational Qualification Certificate.

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