The verdict in three sentences
If you live in Kaolack and still hunt for your files in "Downloads", the real question is not which course is cheapest but which one you will actually finish. YouTube is free but offers no progression and no certificate, a local training centre costs roughly 50,000 to 120,000 FCFA with fixed hours, and Kolonell Academy's level 1 Beginner course costs 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR) for 5 hours of self-paced work. For an adult who works or is looking for an office job, a structured online format often offers the best balance of price, flexibility and proof of skills.
Three ways to learn computer skills in Kaolack
In Kaolack, many shopkeepers, administrative staff and students do everything on their phone. The day an employer or client asks for a clean document sent by email, with the right attachment and a clear subject line, the lack of computer confidence shows. You have three options.
| Criterion | YouTube and free tutorials | Local training centre | Kolonell Academy, level 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 price | 0 FCFA (excluding mobile data) | 50,000 to 120,000 FCFA (rough estimate) | 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR) |
| Duration | Variable, often scattered | 10 to 30 h depending on the centre | 5 h (lessons, exercises, final project) |
| Schedule | Free | Fixed, travel required | Free, at your own pace |
| Progression | None, videos picked at random | Yes, set by the trainer | 4 modules in order, a quiz per module |
| Certificate | No | Centre attendance certificate, variable | Numbered Kolonell Academy certificate, verifiable online (QR code) |
| Access after the course | As long as the video exists | Ends at the last session | Lifetime access with updates |
| Try before paying | Yes | Rarely | Module 1 free preview |
The local centre keeps one real advantage: a trainer in the room and a machine provided if you have none. If you have no access to a computer at all, that is a serious argument. YouTube is fine for fixing one specific problem ("how do I type a capital É"), but it never tells you what to learn next.
The online course on getting to grips with your computer, files and email, taught in French, sits between the two: an ordered program, written lessons readable on a phone over 3G, PDF handouts, exercises with answer keys and quizzes. There is no video and no live class: you read, you apply it on your own computer, and you ask questions on the course forum or through WhatsApp support.
What you actually learn in 5 hours
Level 1 Beginner (25,000 FCFA, 5 h) is split into four modules. Each lesson ends with exercises applied to your own computer.
| Module | Actual content | What you produce |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Your workstation under control (free) | Windows 11, AZERTY keyboard, accents and @, updates, antivirus, power cuts | A computer you control again |
| 2. Files, folders and backup | File Explorer, extensions, folder plan, dated naming rule, Google Drive or OneDrive, USB stick | Folder structure in place and automatic backup tested |
| 3. Professional email | Signature, subject, greeting, attachment, labels, automatic rules, calendar | Professional signature, 3 message templates, sorted inbox |
| 4. Keyboard shortcuts and work organisation | 20 shortcuts, screenshots, PDF, quick search, daily routine | A sheet of 20 shortcuts and a work routine |
| Final project | Your organised workstation, documented with screenshots | Concrete proof to show |
Prerequisites are modest: access to a Windows computer at least three hours a week (at home, with family, at work or in a cybercafé), knowing how to use a mouse, and a Gmail or Outlook address. You do not need to buy Microsoft Office for this level: free storage on Google Drive (15 GB) or OneDrive (5 GB) is enough.
This level is the entry point to the Office and productivity track, which continues with professional Word and leads, over five levels, to the executive assistant role. The full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA if you take all five levels together.
What it can change for employment
To be clear: this course does not give you a job on its own. It is the foundation required for most office jobs. According to the program, in Dakar an administrative officer or data entry assistant position usually starts between 100,000 and 180,000 FCFA gross per month in 2026 (about 150 to 275 EUR), well above the minimum wage of around 64,000 FCFA, and computer confidence is often tested at the interview. In Kaolack, levels are often slightly lower: this is a 2026 order of magnitude, depending on the profile, and no income is guaranteed.
Mini case study
Consider a hypothetical learner: Awa, 24, holds a BTS in management in Kaolack, helps her aunt at the shop and is aiming for a data entry assistant job. She is torn between a centre at 80,000 FCFA (three evenings a week, 20 minutes away) and the online level 1 at 25,000 FCFA.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
- Price difference: 80,000 − 25,000 = 55,000 FCFA saved.
- Time: 5 hours of online work spread over two weeks, with no travel.
- Illustrative calculation: if Awa someday landed a job at 120,000 FCFA gross rather than staying without an office job, the 25,000 FCFA would represent about 21% of a single month's salary.
This calculation is only an illustration, not an achieved result. It simply shows that the cost of the course is small compared to what a successful interview can change.
FAQ
I don't have my own computer, can I take the course?
Yes, if you can use a Windows computer at least three hours a week (work, family, cybercafé). Lessons can be read on a phone, but the file and backup exercises are best done on a computer you use regularly.
How long does it take to finish?
About 5 hours: three hours of lessons, the exercises and 45 minutes for the final project. With two or three sessions a week, you finish in two weeks.
Is the certificate a diploma?
No. You receive a numbered Kolonell Academy certificate, verifiable online (QR code), to add to LinkedIn, after passing the quizzes of the four modules with at least 70%; your final project must also be approved by a reviewer. It is proof of skills to show an employer, not a state diploma.
How do I pay and when do I get access?
Payment is by Wave or Orange Money at +221 77 596 93 33, and access is activated within 24 working hours. The course is not refundable once access is activated, so start with module 1, which is free to preview.
What if I use a Mac?
The principles stay the same (folders, naming, email, backup). Whenever a Windows shortcut is given, the Mac equivalent is shown in brackets when one exists.
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Take the next step. Enroll in Getting to grips with your computer, files and email: 5 hours, 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR), Kolonell Academy certificate verifiable online. 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.
