The verdict in three sentences
In Kaolack, you can discover web coding in 2026 without a powerful computer, without a bootcamp and without leaving town, with a first course at 25,000 FCFA for 6 hours. This first level does not make you a developer, it mainly tells you whether the job suits you before you invest more. If the answer is yes, the road to a junior developer job paying 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA per month runs through several levels and several months of practice.
What learning to code costs in 2026: options compared
In Kaolack, local web development training is still rare. Bootcamps are in Dakar, 3 hours away by road, and they are expensive. Free resources are plentiful, but many beginners get lost without a clear path.
| Option | Cost 2026 (estimate) | Duration | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube tutorials and free sites | 0 FCFA plus data (5,000-10,000 FCFA per month) | Unlimited | Very disciplined self-learners |
| International online certificates | 0-40,000 FCFA | 10-300 h | Comfortable English speakers, no local context |
| Intensive bootcamp in Dakar | 500,000-1,500,000 FCFA plus lodging | 3-6 months | Those who can stop working |
| Kolonell level 1 Essential, Discover code | 25,000 FCFA (38 EUR) | 6 h | Complete beginners, on a phone or old PC |
| Kolonell level 2, HTML and CSS | 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR) | 10-12 h | After level 1, to build a real site |
| Full Web development track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | Several months | Aiming for a developer career |
The key point: at 25,000 FCFA, the risk is low. If you find out coding is not for you, you will have spent the equivalent of a few weeks of mobile data, not the price of a bootcamp.
What you learn at level 1, concretely
The course Discover code: understand how a website works is level 1 Essential of the track and is taught in French. It has 3 modules, 13 lessons and 32 corrected exercises, with a quiz per module and a final project assessed against a rubric.
| Module | What you do | Concrete result |
|---|---|---|
| How the web works | Follow a page's journey: URL, domain, DNS, HTTP, hosting | An annotated map of the web |
| Inspecting real sites | Open Chrome's tools on a Senegalese website | An inspection sheet |
| First steps in HTML | Write a page in VS Code | Your first web page |
| Style, interaction and publishing | CSS, one line of JavaScript, free hosting | A live page to share on WhatsApp |
The equipment needed is modest: a Windows, macOS or Linux computer, even an old one, is enough for the exercises, and lessons can be read on a phone, even on 3G. Plan 2 to 3 hours a week for 2 to 3 weeks.
What comes next: the road to a first salary
Let us be honest: 6 hours are not enough to bill for development work. The Web development track then moves on to HTML and CSS, JavaScript, React and Next.js, up to full-stack with a database. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude for the Senegalese market (estimates, no guaranteed income).
| Stage | Typical time from start | Possible income (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 completed | 3 weeks | None, discovery phase |
| HTML and CSS mastered | 2-3 months | Small pages for shopkeepers, 25,000-75,000 FCFA each |
| JavaScript and first portfolio | 5-8 months | Internship or gigs, 75,000-150,000 FCFA per month |
| Junior developer in a job | 9-15 months | 200,000-400,000 FCFA per month in Dakar |
| Established freelancer | 18 months and more | Varies with clients |
From Kaolack, remote work for companies in Dakar or the diaspora becomes realistic at junior level, provided you have projects visible online.
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
Moussa, 19, final-year high school student in Kaolack, spends his evenings on his phone and wonders whether to study computing. He uses his older brother's old laptop and pays for level 1, 25,000 FCFA, via Orange Money. In 3 weeks, at 2 hours a week plus one Saturday, he publishes his personal page. Compared with a first bootcamp enrolment at 500,000 FCFA, he tested his interest for 5% of the price. Convinced, he moves on to level 2 at 50,000 FCFA during the holidays (illustrative scenario).
FAQ
Do I need to be good at maths to learn to code?
No, not for basic web development. Level 1 requires logic and curiosity, and 32 corrected exercises guide every step.
My computer is old, is that enough?
Yes, VS Code and a browser run on a PC with 4 GB of RAM. Lessons can also be read on a phone, so you can study on the move.
How long does it take to become a developer?
Usually 9 to 15 months of regular practice for a first junior job, paid 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA per month in Dakar in 2026. It is an order of magnitude and depends mostly on your projects.
Can I pay in instalments?
Level 1 costs 25,000 FCFA, payable via Wave or Orange Money. If you are aiming for the career, the full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 when buying the 5 levels separately.
Is the certificate worth anything?
It is verifiable online and proves you passed the final project. For recruiters, your published projects matter most, and level 1 gives you a first one.
Take the next step. Enroll in Discover code: understand how a website works: 6 hours, 25,000 FCFA, certificate verifiable online, 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.
