The verdict in three sentences
In Kaolack, more and more office, counter and cashier jobs assume you can organise files, send a clean email and attach a document. A cybercafé school often charges 50,000 to 100,000 FCFA for group classes at fixed times. The Kolonell course Getting started with your computer, files and email costs 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR), can be followed on a shared computer and opens the way to Word and Excel.
Why computer basics matter in Kaolack in 2026
Kaolack lives on trade (central market, groundnuts, salt, transport), public services and SMEs. Wholesalers send invoices by email, banks and microfinance institutions ask for scanned documents, recruiters receive CVs as attachments. Not knowing how costs time, money and sometimes a job.
| Common situation | Without computer basics | After the course |
|---|---|---|
| Sending a CV to a recruiter | Blurry photo of the CV on WhatsApp | Clean PDF attached to a professional email |
| Receiving a supplier invoice | Printing at the cybercafé: 100 to 200 FCFA per page | Filed in a dated folder |
| Finding a document 3 months later | 20 to 30 minutes of searching | Under a minute with a clear file name |
| Replying to an administration | Travel costing 2,000 to 5,000 FCFA | Email with attachments in 5 minutes |
| Typing a simple text | 1 hour for one page | 15 to 20 minutes with shortcuts |
| Protecting your files | Lost USB stick, everything lost | Free online backup copy |
Options to learn in Kaolack: price and format
2026 ballpark figures, observed in Kaolack and Senegal's secondary cities:
| Option | Price | Format | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cybercafé school, introduction | 50,000 to 100,000 FCFA | Group classes, fixed hours | Imposed pace, little individual practice |
| Vocational training centre | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 1 to 3 months | Limited seats, rigid calendar |
| Help from a relative | 0 FCFA | When they have time | No method, bad habits |
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA, but mobile data | Open | Often too fast for a beginner |
| Kolonell, level 1 Essential | 25,000 FCFA | 9 h, self-paced | Step-by-step exercises, quizzes and certificate |
| Kolonell, full 5-level track | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | Up to Word, Excel and advanced tools | To aim for an administrative job |
The course Getting started with your computer, files and email is level 1 Essential of the Office and productivity track, taught in French. After this first level, you can move on to Word then Excel, or take the full track directly at 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
What you will be able to do after 9 hours
| Block | Skill | Concrete gain |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Keyboard, mouse, windows, French accents | Typing without hunting for keys |
| Files and folders | Create, name, move, find | No more lost documents |
| Professional email | Clear subject, polite wording, attachment | A serious image with a client or recruiter |
| Security | Passwords, email scams, backups | Lower risk of being hacked |
| Shortcuts | Twenty everyday shortcuts | About 1 hour saved per day at the office |
| PDF and scanning | Convert, send, sign a document | Fewer trips to the cybercafé |
Mini case study
Mariama, 22, holder of the BFEM (lower secondary certificate), sells fabric with her aunt at Kaolack's central market and is aiming for a cashier-secretary job at a hardware store paying 80,000 FCFA a month. She spends about 6,000 FCFA a month at the cybercafé to print, scan and send documents. She pays 25,000 FCFA for the course by Wave and completes it in 3 weeks on her cousin's computer. The cybercafé savings alone pay back the course in just over 4 months. If she gets the job, her first salary is more than 3 times the course price. The job is not guaranteed, but her CV now lists a verifiable skill.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
FAQ
Do I need my own computer?
No, a family computer, a relative's or a cybercafé machine is enough. The 9 hours can be split into sessions of 30 minutes to 1 hour.
I can barely use a mouse, is it too hard?
No, the course starts from zero and moves step by step. Allow 3 to 4 weeks at 3 hours a week.
How much data do the videos need?
An internet bundle of 2,000 to 5,000 FCFA is usually enough for all the lessons. A cybercafé Wi-Fi connection also works.
How do I pay?
The 25,000 FCFA payment is made by Wave or Orange Money. Access opens as soon as payment is confirmed.
What comes after this level?
The logical next step is Word then Excel, in the same track. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
Take the next step. Enroll in Getting started with your computer, files and email: 9 hours self-paced, 25,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy certificate. 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.
