The “Second Chance” program is addressed to adolescents, young people, adults, coming from various social backgrounds and of different ages, who have not attended or have not completed primary and lower secondary education. The program offers these categories of persons 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 grade and who are in the following situations:

For the Second Chance program – primary education:

• 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 program – lower secondary education:

• 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 grades corresponding to lower secondary education (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 the learners and determine them to complete it, to provide more autonomy to schools in terms of its implementation, but also the necessary support for all involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for learners and teaching staff. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: the modular curriculum and credit system for basic education, assessment, certification and recognition of previously acquired competencies 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 follow to build competencies, 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 take place in several timetable options (in the afternoons or evenings during the week, on Saturdays or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the learners and teaching staff. Hours for individual consultations are planned and available to 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, 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 internships, 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 success, but also the chance for another tomorrow.