The verdict in three sentences
In Saint-Louis, a teacher, supervisor or administrative officer can save 2 to 4 hours a week on lesson plans, letters and minutes with free AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot. The real challenge is not technical: you need to write a clear instruction, check every answer and never paste students' personal data into it. The Kolonell course Discover AI, 5 hours for 25,000 FCFA, payable with Wave or Orange Money, is designed for those who have never dared to start.
What AI can actually do for you
In the high schools and middle schools of Saint-Louis, from the island to Sor and Guet Ndar, as in the offices of the city hall, the governorate or Gaston Berger University, a large part of the week goes into writing: preparing a lesson sequence, rewording an exercise for a class of 60, drafting a notice, summarizing a meeting. Generative AI produces these drafts in seconds. You remain the author: you correct, adapt to the Senegalese curriculum and approve.
| Weekly task | Time without AI | Time with AI used well | Estimated gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesson preparation sheet | 60 minutes | 25 minutes | 35 minutes |
| 10 exercises at varied levels | 45 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Administrative letter or notice | 30 minutes | 10 minutes | 20 minutes |
| Minutes of a class council or meeting | 50 minutes | 20 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Information note to parents in plain French | 30 minutes | 10 minutes | 20 minutes |
| Total for a typical week | About 5 hours | About 1 h 40 | 2 to 4 hours depending on volume |
These durations are 2026 orders of magnitude, to adjust to your subject and role. The gain comes mainly from the first draft: you no longer start from a blank page.
The rules for student data
Senegal protects personal data under Law No. 2008-12, and the Personal Data Commission (CDP) stresses that information about minors is sensitive. With a free AI tool, what you type may be stored by the provider.
| Do | Never do |
|---|---|
| Write a 4th-year student struggling with fractions | Type a real student's name, class and grades |
| Ask for a blank report card template | Paste the class list with averages |
| Anonymize minutes before having them reworded | Copy a full disciplinary file |
| Check every date, figure and curriculum reference | Hand out generated text without proofreading |
| Turn off history when the tool allows it | Use a personal account for confidential administrative documents |
How to get trained: options in Saint-Louis
| Option | Indicative 2026 cost | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Testing free tools alone | 0 FCFA | Disappointing results without method, data risk |
| YouTube videos | 0 FCFA, plus mobile data | Examples rarely suited to Senegalese schools |
| One-off in-person workshop | 15,000 to 50,000 FCFA per day, when available | Few sessions in Saint-Louis, no follow-up |
| Kolonell course Discover AI | 25,000 FCFA, 5 hours, certificate | A solid base, to build on later as needed |
The course Discover AI and put it to work this week is level 1 of the track, beginner level, 25,000 FCFA, 5 hours, taught in French. You learn what AI really is, how to write clear instructions, how to check and correct an answer and how to protect your personal data, with five uses tested in your real week. It opens the Artificial intelligence track, whose full 5 levels cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
Mini case study
Mariama, 38, a life sciences teacher at a Saint-Louis high school, teaches 5 classes and prepares 6 sessions a week. She spends about 6 hours weekly on lesson sheets and exercises. After the course at 25,000 FCFA, paid with Wave, she uses a free tool for first drafts and saves on average 3 hours a week.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Over a 32-week school year, that is 96 hours, the equivalent of 12 working days of 8 hours. Compared with the course price, each recovered hour costs her about 260 FCFA in the first year, and nothing in the following years. She spends part of that time supporting struggling students.
FAQ
Do I need a paid subscription to ChatGPT or another tool?
Not to start: the free versions of ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot cover 90% of a teacher's or officer's needs. A subscription, around 12,000 to 14,000 FCFA per month, is only worth it for heavy use.
Do I need a computer?
A smartphone is enough to follow most lessons and practice, but a computer is more comfortable for long documents. The 5 hours can be completed in one to two weeks.
Will AI replace teachers or administrative staff?
No, it produces drafts that contain errors in a significant share of cases, especially on dates and local curricula. Your judgment remains essential, and the course teaches you precisely how to check.
Students already use AI for homework: does the course help me?
Yes: understanding how the tool answers helps you design assignments that are harder to hand off to an AI, for example by asking for a link to an observation made in class.
How do I pay from Saint-Louis?
With Wave or Orange Money, 25,000 FCFA in one go. Access opens as soon as the payment is confirmed.
Take the next step. Enroll in Discover AI and put it to work this week: 5 hours, 25,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy certificate, taught in French. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
