The “Second Chance” program is aimed at adolescents, young people, 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 opportunity to continue and complete compulsory education without having to interrupt any professional or family activities they may be engaged 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 must be at least 4 years older than the age corresponding to the class and be in one of 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 graduated from some of the classes corresponding to lower secondary education (V, VI or VII), but dropped out during this educational cycle – regardless of the time or reasons for dropping out.

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, designed to motivate students and encourage them to complete it, to give schools more autonomy in its implementation, as well as to provide the necessary support to all involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for students and teachers. The program introduced innovative elements in the educational process, such as: the modular curriculum and the credit system for basic education, evaluation, certification and recognition of skills previously acquired by students, providing 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 offer of modules that students can follow to acquire skills, as a result of participation in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts, and with tasks and themes 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 timetable options (in the afternoons or evenings during the week, Saturdays or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of students 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, 4 years for lower secondary education) can be shortened for each student, depending on proven competencies, both in 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 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 complete practical training stages, after which they have the possibility to obtain a level 3 Professional Qualification Certificate.

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