The verdict in three sentences
In Mbour, many young people and tourism workers are drawn to web development but hesitate to spend 300,000 to 900,000 FCFA on a bootcamp without knowing whether they will enjoy coding. Kolonell's course Discover Code: Understand How a Website Works (6 hours, 25,000 FCFA, about 38 EUR or 42 USD, verifiable certificate) has you write and publish your first HTML page, so you can test your interest cheaply. To be clear, this level is not enough to bill for development work; it opens the door to the full track.
Why understand first before committing
Mbour and the Petite-Côte live on tourism, fishing and trade. Saly hotels, restaurants, excursion agencies and shops all need websites, online booking and pages that work on mobile. Behind those needs are jobs, and a genuine curiosity among students and receptionists who use these tools every day.
The risk is jumping in blind. An entry-level laptop costs 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA in 2026 (about 230 to 380 EUR, or 250 to 415 USD), an intensive bootcamp 300,000 to 900,000 FCFA. Before spending that, it makes sense to check, in a few hours, that you follow the logic and enjoy writing code.
The course has 3 modules: how the web works (what happens between your phone and a server), your first steps in HTML, then style, interaction and going live. At the end, you have a hand-written page published online and a clear view of the job. It is taught in French.
| What you learn | Module | Concrete result |
|---|---|---|
| Browser, server, domain name, hosting | 1. How the web works | Explain what happens when you type an address |
| Page structure: headings, paragraphs, links, images | 2. First steps in HTML | A hand-written profile page |
| Styling with CSS: colours, fonts, spacing | 3. Style and interaction | A page readable on mobile |
| First contact with JavaScript | 3. Style and interaction | A button that reacts to a click |
| Free online publishing | 3. Going live | A web address to share |
| Overview of the developer job | Whole course | Knowing whether you want to continue |
What learning to code costs in Senegal in 2026
There are many options at very different prices. Free online resources are excellent but demand strong self-discipline, and many beginners quit after two weeks without structure. Bootcamps are intensive and expensive. A short, guided course lets you test with little risk.
| Option | 2026 price (estimate) | Duration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free online resources | 0 FCFA | Unlimited | Highly motivated self-learners |
| Kolonell Discover Code | 25,000 FCFA (38 EUR) | 6 h | Complete beginners who want to test |
| Kolonell Web Development track, 5 levels | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA | Several months | Aiming for a developer job |
| Intensive bootcamp in Dakar or online | 300,000 to 900,000 FCFA | 3 to 6 months | Full-time career change |
| Private university IT degree | 600,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA a year | 3 years | Recognised diploma |
| Entry-level laptop | 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA | One-off purchase | Needed beyond level 1 |
For later, here are 2026 pay estimates. They apply to people who completed a full track and built projects, not to a beginner after 6 hours.
| Profile | Indicative pay 2026 | Required level |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner after level 1 | Not yet billable | HTML and CSS basics |
| Developer intern in Dakar | 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA a month | Personal projects, JavaScript basics |
| Junior developer in Dakar | 250,000 to 450,000 FCFA a month (about 380 to 685 EUR) | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, one framework |
| Freelance: simple showcase site | 150,000 to 500,000 FCFA per project | Portfolio of 3 to 5 sites |
| Experienced start-up developer | 500,000 FCFA or more a month | 2 to 3 years of experience |
The syllabus is on the Discover Code: Understand How a Website Works course page. It is level 1 of the Web Development track, which takes you from your first HTML file to the full-stack developer job. You pay by Wave or Orange Money.
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Ibrahima, 22, a receptionist at a hotel in Saly, spends his days on the booking software and the hotel website. He wonders whether he could become a developer. Instead of signing up straight away for a 600,000 FCFA bootcamp, he takes the 25,000 FCFA course on his phone and on the hotel computer outside working hours, and publishes a page about his neighbourhood.
Calculation: if he finds he does not like coding, he has spent 25,000 FCFA instead of risking 600,000 FCFA, so 575,000 FCFA avoided. If he is hooked, he saves for a 180,000 FCFA laptop, continues with the full track at 350,000 FCFA and aims for a junior role around 300,000 FCFA a month: the total 555,000 FCFA investment would equal just under 2 months of that salary. This scenario is illustrative; no job or income is guaranteed, and the track takes several months of regular practice.
FAQ
Can I take the course without a computer?
Yes, for this 6-hour level 1, a smartphone and an online text editor are enough to write your first pages. To continue the track, an entry-level laptop at 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA becomes necessary.
Do I need to be good at maths?
No. HTML and CSS require logic and care, not advanced calculation. High school students from age 15 follow the course without difficulty.
Will I be able to build websites for clients after this course?
Not yet. This level gives you the basics and a view of the job. A site you can bill at 150,000 FCFA or more requires the next levels of the track and a few completed projects.
How much is the full track?
The 5 levels of the Web Development track cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA. You can also start with this single level at 25,000 FCFA and decide afterwards.
How do I pay?
The 25,000 FCFA fee is paid by Wave or Orange Money. You receive a certificate verifiable online at the end of the course.
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.
