The “Second Chance” program is aimed at adolescents, young people, adults 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 people the possibility to continue and complete compulsory education without having to interrupt their possible professional or family activities in which they are involved.

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 appropriate for the grade and are in one of the following situations:

For the Second Chance – primary education program:

• they have not participated at all in formal – school education;
• 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 have completed compulsory primary education (including in the Second Chance system) but did not continue their education further

or:

• they 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, meant to motivate students and encourage them to complete it, to offer more autonomy to schools regarding its implementation, but also the necessary support for all those involved, through teacher training programs and educational materials for students and teachers. Through the 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 competences acquired previously by students, ensuring an individualized learning 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 ensures a transparent offer of modules that students can follow to develop their 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 conducted according to several schedule variants (on weekdays in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays, or during school vacations, etc.) depending on the possibilities of students and teachers. Individual consultation hours are scheduled at the students' disposal.

The program has a flexible duration. The average duration of schooling (2 years for primary education, and 4 years for lower secondary education) can be reduced for each student, depending on the competences demonstrated, both in basic education and 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 (upper cycle of high school) or take practical training stages, after which they have the opportunity to also obtain a level 3 vocational qualification certificate.

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