The verdict in three sentences
In Saint-Louis, the best way to start coding is to understand how a website works before paying for a long course or a school. A first step of 6 hours for 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR) is enough to write and publish your first HTML page and find out whether you enjoy the job. A junior web developer in Dakar earns 250,000 to 450,000 FCFA a month as a 2026 order of magnitude, but it usually takes 9 to 18 months of regular practice to get there.
Options for learning to code in Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis has an asset: Gaston Berger University trains computer science, maths and management students every year, and many students from other fields also want to learn to code. Here is what exists in 2026.
| Option | 2026 cost | Duration | Structured path | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube videos and free tutorials | 0 FCFA | Unlimited | No, scattered content | No |
| Free platforms (freeCodeCamp, MDN) | 0 FCFA | 300+ h | Yes, mostly in English | Yes for some |
| Intensive bootcamp in Dakar | 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA | 3 to 6 months | Yes | Yes |
| Bachelor's or master's in computer science | 300,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA per year depending on the institution | 3 to 5 years | Yes | Degree |
| Kolonell Discover code course | 25,000 FCFA | 6 h | Yes, in French | Yes |
Free resources work for people who already know where they are going. The beginner's problem is not a lack of videos, it is the order: people get lost between HTML, Python and JavaScript without understanding what a server or a domain name is.
What you learn in 6 hours
The course Discover code: understand how a website works is level 1 of the web development track. It is taught in French and costs 25,000 FCFA. You follow a page's journey from your phone to the server (URL, domain name, DNS, HTTP, hosting), inspect real websites with Chrome's tools, write your first HTML page and publish it online for free. The full 5-level track, up to full-stack development, costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
| Step after level 1 | Realistic duration | What you can do | Possible income (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 completed | 1 week | Explain how a site works, publish a page | None, discovery phase |
| Solid HTML and CSS | 2 to 3 months | Build a clean, responsive showcase page | 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA per small job |
| JavaScript | 3 to 5 more months | Make a site interactive | 100,000 to 250,000 FCFA per job |
| Internship or first junior job | 9 to 18 months in total | Work in a team on a real project | 250,000 to 450,000 FCFA a month in Dakar |
| Experienced developer | 3 to 5 years | Lead a full project | 600,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA a month |
Mini case study
Mariama, 21, a management undergraduate at UGB. She hesitates between an 800,000 FCFA bootcamp in Dakar and sticking with YouTube. She starts with level 1 at 25,000 FCFA, publishes her first page in 5 days, then spends 6 hours a week on HTML and CSS. After 4 months, she builds two showcase pages for Saint-Louis shops at 75,000 FCFA each, or 150,000 FCFA. Her 25,000 FCFA is covered six times over, and she now knows she enjoys the work before committing a bigger budget. This path is an estimate: everything depends on the time invested.
FAQ
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Do I need to be good at maths to learn to code?
Not for web development. Level 1 only requires knowing how to use a computer and a browser, for 6 hours.
Can I learn on a phone?
You can follow the lessons on a phone, but you need a computer to write code. A second-hand laptop at 120,000 to 200,000 FCFA is enough for the first levels.
How long before a first income?
As a 2026 order of magnitude, allow 3 to 6 months of regular practice before a first small paid job, and 9 to 18 months before a junior position.
How do I pay for the course?
The 25,000 FCFA payment is made by Wave or Orange Money. Access is immediate and the certificate is issued at the end.
Does the course guarantee a job?
No. It gives you a clear foundation and a first project online. Employment then depends on your practice and your projects.
Take the next step. Enroll in Discover code: understand how a website works: 6 hours online, taught in French, 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.
