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This document provides a review of the issue of disadvantaged youth in South Africa and explores existing education and training provision designed to help young people at risk. The first section contains a socioeconomic profile of disadvantaged youth, highlighting the problem of youth unemployment and the socioeconomic consequences such as poverty and involvement in crime, and an overview of the extent of educational provision for this group. This provision includes formal provision in the form of schools and technical colleges and informal provision through adult basic education, and training and youth colleges. The next sections examine emerging education strategies and the challenges to be overcome to ensure these strategies are effective. The authors conclude that strategies and approaches recently consolidated in policy and legislation, promise reform of the poor absorptive capacity of both the education and employment systems in terms of disadvantaged youth, but highlight the profound constraints within which they will operate. However, it is suggested that, even if not all goals are achieved, it is likely that significant progress will be made in the medium to long term.