The “Second Chance” program is aimed at teenagers, young people, and adults from various social backgrounds and of different ages who have not attended or 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 their possible professional or family activities in which they are engaged.

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 moment and reasons for dropping out;
• they did not graduate 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 part of the lower secondary grades (V, VI, or VII), but dropped out during this educational cycle – regardless of the moment and reasons for dropping out.

The Second Chance program is a flexible program, so as to motivate learners and determine them to complete it, to offer schools more autonomy in implementing it, as well as the necessary support for all involved through training programs for teaching staff and educational materials for learners and teachers. Through the program, innovative elements have been introduced in the educational process, such as: modular curriculum and a credit system for basic education, evaluation, certification, and recognition of competences previously acquired by learners, and 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 may have very different levels and expectations. The new program provides a transparent offer of modules that students can follow in order to acquire competences, as a result of participation in cooperative learning activities, in real contexts, with tasks and topics that respond to their interests and needs.

Learning will take place in small groups (8-15 students per class). Courses may take place according to several timetable options (on weekdays in the afternoon or evening, on Saturdays, or during school vacations, etc.) depending on the availability of the learners and teaching staff. Hours are planned for individual consultations available to students.

The program has a flexible duration. The average schooling duration (2 years for primary education, and 4 years for lower secondary education, respectively) can be shortened for each student, depending on the competences demonstrated, 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 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 possibility 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.