These are some of the comments from RPL candidates over the years:

Being in the short term industry since 1982/1983, it was a great opportunity to be able to apply all that past experience and gather the evidence for my portfolio.  I had to explore a wide range of topics.  To me the entire process was a challenge.  I found it to be most valuable and I believe I and my clients will only benefit from being more knowledgeable and compliant in my field.

Initially I found the setting-out of material confusing and I had many questions to you and your colleagues in this regard.  However, I can clearly clarify that I now recognise the purpose for adopting this approach and technique that you have in the presented material.  It forces the learner to use their initiative and common sense.  This is long overdue.

I expected to be able to do the assignments and I could.  I read them all, planned, researched for a few weeks, then took study leave and wrote my portfolio.

I have been with this company for the last 5 years.  I know my job and the RPL was straightforward.  I enjoyed it and learnt from it.  It did take a lot of effort to complete but I grew a little more each day.

I anticipated difficulties in completing the assignments but I was pleasantly surprised to find that once I had read what was required it was straightforward.

Through the RPL I would like to achieve as much credits as possible to be able to get positions in the company that require certain qualifications, especially as I do not have a matric certificate.

The only way to cope was to do a little bit each night.  If I missed out on my night of work I felt overwhelmed and not able to cope. When I started I almost cried.  How could I cope?  I approached each assignment with trepidation and a certain amount of fear.  But once I got into it I found it interesting and I became excited and looked forward to the next assignment.

Ek het geleer dat positiewe denke die sukses van hierdie studies sal wees. What has RPL done for me? I can now type. I, at my age, have become disciplined.  I have learnt to make time for things in my life. I have obtained a wealth of knowledge.  I have gained my self-confidence.  I have learnt how to use the internet (wow!).  I have learnt to learn.

I found the research very interesting and was amazed to discover how much I actually enjoyed the research process.  Finding the information and putting it together has been a lot of fun.

When I first read the assignments I had a mixed reaction.  I was confident about what I knew and I looked forward to doing the research. But I was anxious about being able to communicate what I knew to the assessor.

RPL took away my time from my family.  There were fights and arguments and pure frustration, you will not believe it.    I am proud of what I have achieved now – but when I was doing it I was stressed to my eyeballs.

I loved this process and learnt so much.  I loved the challenge and learning all the new things.  It took time but it was invigorating.  Thank you RPL.

RPL means Read, Live and Progress’.  It has certainly helped me to progress.

Ek het gedink ek gaan baie sukkel.  Namate ek gevorder het, naslaan werk gedoen het, het ek dit so interessant gevind dat ek my bes wil lewer. My first reaction to the entire RPL was many questions: Why do I have to do this?  Why didn’t I get enough qualifications in the past? Do my superiors think I do not have enough work?  When I started there were so many questions and I started to worry….In the meantime I survived two restructurings and the last one was touch and go…I felt like leaving just to stop the RPL....But RPL did a lot for me…After all this I feel like I have been to university…I am so proud.

When I first heard about the RPL and thought about all the hard work one would have to put in I was very upset…I then realised by completing the RPL and being FAIS compliant I would benefit and so would my clients and employers…This RPL took up my free time and I had many sleepless nights, but at the end of the year it was for the best and in my own interest…I can honestly say I learnt a lot of new things… I would like to thank you for the opportunity you gave me to better myself.

Initially I found the setting out of the material confusing… I now recognise the need for this approach…it broadened my mind but I almost gave up…Thank you again to my company, RPL and the INSETA for this opportunity.

RPL will increase my chances to enter doorways that were closed before.  It will also enhance my knowledge of the short term industry. Ek glo dit was a baie goeie ding om die RPL te doen sodat almal op dieselfde standard is.

Dit was ‘n baie leersame proses.

RPL has taught me not to just live for today, it has prepared me to accept daily challenges and be able to live thereafter.

I am proud that I have completed it and if this is what is needed to ensure that I am able to do my job then so be it.  Thank you for the opportunity.

Die enigste problem nou is dat ek weet ek het genoeg tyd om te leer.  Ek het in die verlede gedink daar is vir niks anders tyd behalwe om te werk nie. Ek sal baie graag elke dag ‘n tyd wil inruim vir studies en daarby hou.

I can truly say that RPL has helped me in the following ways, managing my time, it forced me to read policy wordings again and it forced me to refresh my knowledge on financial statements.  Not easy but well worth it.