The “Second Chance” program is addressed to adolescents, young people, and adults from various social backgrounds and of different ages who have not attended or 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 possible 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 component of professional training.

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 who 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 graduated from primary education by the age of 14.

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

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

or:

• have completed some of the lower secondary school classes (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 schools more autonomy regarding its implementation, but also to provide the necessary support to all those involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for learners and for teaching staff. Through this 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 competencies previously acquired by learners, provision of an individualized preparation 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 offer of modules which students can follow to develop competencies, 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 be held 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 the teachers. Hours are planned for individual consultations at the students' disposal.

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

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

Graduates of the Second Chance Program - primary education may continue their studies in lower secondary education;

Graduates of the Second Chance Program - lower secondary education may continue their studies in upper secondary education (upper cycle of high school) or may 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 represent not only a personal success, but the chance for another tomorrow.