The “Second Chance” program is addressed to adolescents, young people, and adults from diverse social backgrounds and of various 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 being forced to interrupt any professional or family activities in which they may be engaged.

The program is structured in 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 class and are in one of the following situations:

For the Second Chance – primary education program:

• have not participated at all in formal schooling;
• were enrolled but abandoned primary education – regardless of when and why the abandonment occurred;
• did not graduate primary education by the age of 14.

For the Second Chance – lower secondary education program:

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

or:

• graduated part of the classes corresponding to lower secondary education (V, VI or VII), but abandoned school during this educational cycle – regardless of when and why the abandonment occurred.

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, designed to motivate learners and encourage them to complete it, to provide more autonomy to schools in its implementation, but also the necessary support to 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: modular curriculum and credit system for basic education, the evaluation, certification and recognition of previously acquired competences by learners, the provision of 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 ensures a transparent offer of modules that students can follow to develop competencies, as a result of participation in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts and with tasks and themes that meet 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, on Saturdays or during school holidays, etc.) depending on the possibilities of the learners and teaching staff. Individual consultation hours are planned at the students' disposal.

The program has a flexible duration. The average schooling duration (2 years for primary education, 4 years for lower secondary education) can be reduced for each student, depending on proven competencies, both in basic education and in professional 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 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 undergo 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 personal success, but also the chance for another tomorrow.