The verdict in three sentences
In Saint-Louis, a student at Gaston-Berger University or a career changer can learn to code a real website without paying for a bootcamp in Dakar. The online course HTML et CSS : créer et mettre en page un vrai site (taught in French) costs 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR) for 12 hours and ends with the 4-page website of an SME, live online and ready for your portfolio. In 2026, a simple showcase site bills 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA to a small business: a few clients are enough to recover the investment, with no income guarantee.
Why learn HTML and CSS from Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis has thousands of students, hotels and guesthouses serving tourists, restaurants on the island and in Sor, private schools, clinics and shops along the Langue de Barbarie. Many only have a Facebook page. Those who want a website often go through Dakar, at agency prices.
HTML and CSS remain the foundation of the whole web. Even if you later move to JavaScript, a framework or a CMS, knowing how to structure a page and style it properly sets you apart from someone who only uses ready-made templates. The course assumes you have already written your first tags (level 1 of the track) and takes you all the way to going live.
| Module | What you learn | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Semantic HTML | Structuring a multi-page site | Clean site structure |
| Forms and accessibility | Readable forms, Google and WhatsApp metadata | Accessible booking form |
| CSS fundamentals | Colours, typography, box model, selectors | Base stylesheet |
| Flexbox, Grid and responsive | Mobile-first layout | Restaurant landing page |
| Maintainable CSS, performance, deployment | Lighter images, Lighthouse, publishing | Live 4-page SME site |
In total: 5 modules, 25 lessons, 61 corrected exercises, one quiz per module and 2 projects graded against a rubric, then a certificate verifiable online.
Comparing ways to learn
| Option (2026 ballpark) | Price | Duration | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web development bootcamp in Dakar | 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA | 3 to 6 months, in person | Broad syllabus, travel and housing on top |
| Private tutor in Saint-Louis | 5,000 to 15,000 FCFA per hour | Varies | Depends on the tutor |
| Free tutorials and online certificates | 0 FCFA (plus data) | Unlimited | Nobody reviews your code |
| Kolonell, HTML and CSS (level 2) | 50,000 FCFA | 12 h, self-paced | 2 graded projects, live site, certificate |
| Web Development track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | Progressive | From first code to applications |
For a student living in Sanar, a Dakar bootcamp also means 2 to 6 months of rent and transport. The online course runs in the evening, on a modest laptop, with a free code editor.
The full syllabus is on the HTML and CSS course to build a real responsive website page (the course is taught in French). The next step is the Web Development track, whose level 3 covers JavaScript.
What a beginner front-end developer can charge
The ranges below are 2026 ballpark figures seen in Dakar and Abidjan, applicable to Saint-Louis for a small business clientele. No income is guaranteed: you still have to find clients, deliver and maintain the relationship.
| Service | Indicative beginner freelance price | Estimated build time |
|---|---|---|
| Landing page for a restaurant or event | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 2 to 4 days |
| Simple 4 to 5 page showcase site | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Responsive redesign of an existing page | 50,000 to 100,000 FCFA | 1 to 3 days |
| Content updates | 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA per job | A few hours |
| Agency site with back office or payments | 400,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA (agency price) | Requires the next levels |
A site with online payment or an admin area is beyond this course: it needs JavaScript and a back end, taught later in the track.
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, 22, an undergraduate at Gaston-Berger University, takes the course during the holidays: 12 hours over 3 weeks. He pays 50,000 FCFA with Wave.
He codes a landing page for a guesthouse on Saint-Louis island for 100,000 FCFA, then a 4-page site for a driving school in Sor for 200,000 FCFA. Total earned: 300,000 FCFA, 6 times the course price. Over about 60 hours of work on both projects, that is close to 5,000 FCFA an hour. The scenario assumes he finds these two clients through his network; without clients, the gain is a portfolio and a skill.
FAQ
Do I need a powerful computer?
No. A laptop with 4 GB of RAM, a browser and a free editor such as VS Code are enough for the 12 hours of the course.
I have never coded, can I start here?
This course is level 2. If you have never written an HTML tag, start with level 1, Découvrir le code, then continue.
Is the final site really online?
Yes, the last module covers deployment and a Lighthouse check. You finish with a 4-page site reachable at a web address that you can show clients.
How much is the full track?
The Web Development track has 5 levels and costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000, payable with Wave or Orange Money.
Does the certificate replace a degree?
No, but it is verifiable online and tied to 2 graded projects. For a client, the live site often counts more than the paper.
Take the next step. Enroll in HTML et CSS : créer et mettre en page un vrai site: 12 hours, 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR), verifiable certificate and a live website. 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.
