The “Second Chance” program is addressed to adolescents, young people, adults, coming from diverse social backgrounds and with varied 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 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 professional 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 are in the following situations:

For the Second Chance – primary education program:

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

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

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

or:

• they graduated from some of the classes corresponding to lower secondary education (V, VI or VII), but dropped out of school 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, offer more autonomy to schools in its implementation, but also provide the necessary support for all those involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for learners and teachers. Through this program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and credit system for basic education, evaluation, certification and recognition of skills previously acquired by learners, ensuring an individualized training program.

Enrollment in the Second Chance program can be done every year, in two sessions: October and February.

Students enrolled in the program may have very different levels and expectations. The new program provides a transparent offer of modules that students can follow to acquire skills, as a result of participating in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts and with tasks and assignments 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 schedule options (in the afternoon or evening during the week, Saturday or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the learners and teachers. Hours for individual consultations for students are planned.

The program has a flexible duration. The average schooling duration (2 years for primary education, respectively 4 years for lower secondary education) can be shortened for each student, depending on the proven skills, both in basic education and in professional training.

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

Graduates of the Second Chance Program - primary education can pursue studies in lower secondary education;

Graduates of the Second Chance Program - lower secondary education can pursue studies in upper secondary education (the 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 success, but the chance for another tomorrow.