The verdict in three sentences
In Kaolack you can get into web development without moving to Dakar: a computer, a decent connection and a method are enough to publish a first site within a few weeks. The Kolonell course "HTML and CSS: build and lay out a real website" costs 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR) for 12 hours and ends with a responsive brochure site published online. First jobs for local shopkeepers pay, as a 2026 ballpark, 75,000 to 250,000 FCFA per simple site.
Why start with HTML and CSS rather than a no-code tool
Drag-and-drop site builders give quick results, but you depend on their subscription, templates and limits. Knowing how to write semantic HTML and CSS lets you understand what happens under the hood, fix an existing site, make it fast on a 3G phone and be taken seriously when you move on to JavaScript and React. It is also the baseline that Dakar agencies require when they subcontract front-end integration.
In Kaolack the demand is there: central market shops, hardware stores, transport companies, private schools, clinics and restaurants want a page that shows up on Google and a link to share on WhatsApp. Very few have a provider in town.
| What you can do | Type of job in Kaolack | Typical price, 2026 ballpark |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing yet | None | 0 FCFA |
| A simple HTML page | Small fix or text update | 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA |
| A responsive landing page | Presentation page for a shop or an event | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA |
| A 4 to 5 page brochure site | Restaurant, school, transport company | 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA |
| HTML, CSS and JavaScript | Site with menu, gallery, dynamic form | More, with the next level |
The 12-hour syllabus, and what other options cost
The course is level 2 of the Web development track. Its five modules cover semantic HTML to structure a site, forms and accessibility, CSS fundamentals, layout with Flexbox, Grid and responsive design, then maintainable CSS, performance and going live. You first build a restaurant landing page, then as a final project the responsive brochure site of a small business, which you publish and can show to future clients.
You need a computer with VS Code and Google Chrome, and 3 to 4 hours a week for 3 to 4 weeks. If you have never written a line of code, level 1 "Discover code" (25,000 FCFA, 6 hours) prepares the ground. The course is taught in French.
| Option from Kaolack | Cost, 2026 ballpark | Duration | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube videos | 0 FCFA, data aside | Variable | Scattered notions, rarely a published site |
| In-person course in Dakar | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA, plus Kaolack to Dakar travel and housing | 4 to 8 weeks | Coaching, but travel costs |
| International online certificate | 15,000 to 40,000 FCFA a month | Several months | English content, examples far from the local market |
| Kolonell HTML and CSS course | 50,000 FCFA | 12 hours, online | Two projects, a published brochure site, certificate |
| Next level, JavaScript | 75,000 FCFA | 16 hours | Interactive sites |
| Full Web development track | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | 5 levels | Up to full-stack developer |
The detailed syllabus is on the page of the HTML and CSS course to build a real website. To see the full progression, from first code to React and full-stack, check the Web development track.
Mini case study
Moustapha, 21, holder of a science baccalaureate in Kaolack, helps in the family shop and spends his evenings on his computer. He takes the course over one month and publishes the brochure site from the final project.
He then offers a 4-page site to a hardware store and a driving school in the Médina Baye district, at 120,000 FCFA each, promising delivery within two weeks.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
- Course cost: 50,000 FCFA
- Revenue from the first two sites: 2 x 120,000 = 240,000 FCFA
- Costs (data; domain and hosting are billed to the client): about 20,000 FCFA left for him
- Net gain after the course: 240,000 - 50,000 - 20,000 = 170,000 FCFA, plus a three-site portfolio
This scenario is illustrative: landing clients takes prospecting, and no income is guaranteed.
FAQ
Do I need to be good at maths to learn HTML and CSS?
No. HTML and CSS are mostly about structure and visual layout. The 12 hours of the course are accessible with a baccalaureate level, science or humanities.
My computer is old, is it good enough?
VS Code and Chrome run on most computers under ten years old with 4 GB of memory. The work is done locally and uses little data.
How much should I charge for my first site in Kaolack?
As a 2026 ballpark, a landing page sells for 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA and a simple 4 to 5 page brochure site for up to 250,000 FCFA in a mid-sized city. Start low to build your portfolio, then raise your rates.
What comes after this course?
The logical next step is level 3 JavaScript at 75,000 FCFA (16 hours), which makes your sites interactive. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
How do I pay?
With Wave or Orange Money, 50,000 FCFA for this level. No bank card is needed.
Take the next step. Enroll in HTML and CSS: build and lay out a real website: 12 hours, 50,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy certificate included. 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.
