The "Second Chance" program is addressed to adolescents, young people, adults, coming from diverse social backgrounds and with 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 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 appropriate age for the class and find themselves 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 the Second Chance system) but have not continued their education further

or:

• have completed part of the grades corresponding to lower secondary education (V, VI or VII), but have 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 students and encourage them to complete it, to offer more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, but also the necessary support to all those involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for students and teachers. The program introduced innovative elements in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and credit system for basic education, evaluation, certification and recognition of previously acquired competencies by the students, and 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 provides a transparent offer of modules that students can follow to develop competences, as a result of participation 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 per class). Courses can take place according to several scheduling options (in the afternoons or evenings during the week, on Saturdays or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the students and teachers. Consultation hours are planned, available to students individually.

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

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

Graduates of the Second Chance Program - primary education can continue their studies at lower secondary education;

Graduates of the Second Chance Program - lower secondary education can continue their studies in upper secondary education (the upper cycle of high school) or can attend practical training stages, after which they have the opportunity 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.