The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, not knowing how to use a computer at work shuts you out of most administrative officer, data entry clerk or cashier jobs, because email and file handling are tested at the interview. The Kolonell course Prendre en main son ordinateur, ses fichiers et sa messagerie (level 1 Beginner, 25,000 FCFA, about 40 EUR / 45 USD, 9 hours, certificate, taught in French) covers Windows 11, the AZERTY keyboard, folder organisation, online backup and professional email. It is the cheapest entry point of the office skills track, to follow at your own pace from Thiès, Tivaouane or Mbour.
Why computers still hold back so many job seekers in Thiès
Thiès has construction companies, cement and phosphate industries, wholesale shops, municipal services and a network of SMEs hiring administrative staff. Job ads repeat the same lines: "computer literate", "comfortable with email", "able to file and send documents". Many candidates use WhatsApp perfectly on their phone but freeze in front of a keyboard: accents they cannot find, files saved in Downloads, forgotten attachments, empty email subjects.
The issue is not intelligence, it is the lack of a method. A shopkeeper buying a computer for invoices, a municipal clerk asked to key in files or a young graduate applying for an internship all hit the same obstacles. The course tackles them in order: your workstation under control, files and backup, professional email, then keyboard shortcuts and work organisation.
| Option in Thiès (2026) | Indicative price | Duration | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell course level 1 | 25,000 FCFA (40 EUR), one-off | 9 h, self-paced | 4 modules, final project, certificate |
| Cyber centre classes | 30,000 to 60,000 FCFA per month | Usually 2 to 3 months | Group sessions, variable content |
| Private tutor at home | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA per session | Depends on availability | Direct support, no certificate |
| Free YouTube videos | 0 FCFA (excluding data) | Unlimited | No progression, no correction |
| Full Office skills track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA (530 EUR) instead of 450,000 | Several months | From email to executive assistant |
Local prices are 2026 orders of magnitude observed in Thiès and may vary by neighbourhood and centre.
What you can do after the 9 hours
The course Getting to grips with your computer, files and email delivers concrete results, not just theory. You leave with a working folder structure and a dated naming rule, automatic backup active on Google Drive or OneDrive and tested on a file, a professional email signature and three ready-to-use message templates.
| Module | Skill acquired | Practical use at work |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Your workstation under control | Windows 11, AZERTY keyboard, accents and accented capitals | Type a letter without typos |
| 2. Files, folders and backup | Filing plan, naming, Drive and OneDrive | Find a document in 10 seconds |
| 3. Professional email | Clear subject, attachment, phrasing, signature | Reply to a client or a manager |
| 4. Shortcuts and organisation | Twenty shortcuts, window management | Save time on every task |
| Final project | Workstation organised end to end | Proof to show at interview |
Prerequisites: access to a Windows computer at least three hours a week (personal, family, office or cyber café) and the ability to use a mouse. A refurbished computer costs 120,000 to 200,000 FCFA (180 to 300 EUR) in Thiès in 2026, but you do not need one to start.
What basic computer skills change on the job market
This course does not give you a trade on its own: it is the foundation required for most office jobs. Figures below are 2026 orders of magnitude in Senegal, with no job guarantee.
| Target job | Indicative gross monthly salary | Computer requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Sales assistant without office skills | 60,000 to 90,000 FCFA | Low |
| Data entry clerk | 100,000 to 150,000 FCFA | Email, files, fast typing |
| Administrative officer | 100,000 to 180,000 FCFA | Email, filing, shared documents |
| Cashier and stock clerk | 110,000 to 170,000 FCFA | Till software, email, simple reports |
| Executive assistant (after the track) | 200,000 to 350,000 FCFA | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, calendar |
The minimum wage is around 64,000 FCFA a month in 2026, so moving from a job with no office skills to a data entry post is a real step up. To go further, the Office and productivity track continues with Word, Excel, the Office suite and the executive assistant role.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Mini case study
Fatou, 25, a management graduate in Thiès, works as a sales assistant in a fabric shop for 70,000 FCFA a month. She uses the family computer three evenings a week and completes the course in three weeks. Total cost: 25,000 FCFA, plus about 3,000 FCFA of mobile data. Two months of cyber centre classes would have cost her at least 60,000 FCFA. If she lands a data entry job at 120,000 FCFA, the 50,000 FCFA monthly difference pays back the course in just over two weeks of salary. This scenario remains a hypothesis: hiring also depends on her profile and the local market.
FAQ
I do not own a computer. Can I still take the course?
Yes, as long as you can use a Windows computer at least three hours a week, at work, at home or in a cyber café. The 9 hours fit easily into two to three weeks.
How much does it cost and how do I pay from Thiès?
Level 1 costs 25,000 FCFA (about 40 EUR / 45 USD), paid once by Wave or Orange Money. There is no monthly fee, unlike cyber centre classes at 30,000 FCFA a month or more.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes, a verifiable certificate is issued after the final project. It strengthens your CV, but the ease you demonstrate at interview matters most.
I type slowly. Is that a problem?
No, module 1 covers the AZERTY keyboard, accents and special characters. With 15 minutes of practice a day, most beginners double their speed within a few weeks.
What comes after level 1?
Level 2, Professional Word, costs 50,000 FCFA (80 EUR). The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 when bought in one go.
Take the next step. Enroll in Getting to grips with your computer, files and email: 9 hours self-paced, 25,000 FCFA (about 40 EUR / 45 USD), certificate included, 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.
