The verdict in three sentences
Before paying for a bootcamp at 500,000 FCFA or more, a high school student, university student or employee in Ouagadougou should check, cheaply, whether the developer job really suits them. Writing a first web page and putting it online takes a few hours and gives an honest answer. The course Discover code: understand how a website works (level 1 Essential, 25,000 FCFA or about 38 EUR, 6 h, taught in French) was designed for exactly this first test.
What learning to code costs in Ouagadougou in 2026
There is no shortage of options, but they differ in price and commitment. Here are the benchmarks, as 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Option | Price | Duration | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell level 1 course | 25,000 FCFA | 6 h | Testing code at low risk |
| Full Kolonell Web development track | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | 5 levels, several months | Aiming for a first job or contracts |
| Intensive bootcamp | 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA | 3 to 6 months | Already decided, available full time |
| In-person training center | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA | 1 to 3 months | Needs fixed hours |
| YouTube videos and free courses | 0 FCFA | Unlimited | Very self-driven, often in English |
| Computer science degree | 300,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA a year | 3 years | Long academic path |
Free works for some, but many give up for lack of a clear thread. At 25,000 FCFA, level 1 costs about 2 to 5% of a bootcamp and tells you whether you want to go further.
What you can do after 6 hours, and what the job pays
This first level does not make you a developer, and it does not claim to. It helps you understand what happens between your phone and a server, then write and publish a real page. The rest of the Web development track leads, level by level, to billable skills.
| Level or stage | What you learn | Possible income (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1, Discover code | How a site works, first HTML page online | None, it is a test |
| Levels 2 and 3 | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, responsive sites | Small jobs of 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA |
| Level 4, career | Full projects, portfolio | First job or regular contracts |
| Junior developer in Ouagadougou | Front-end, maintenance, small apps | 250,000 to 450,000 FCFA a month |
| Experienced developer (3+ years) | Apps, APIs, mentoring | 500,000 to 900,000 FCFA a month |
| Freelancer for the diaspora or abroad | Remote contracts | Highly variable, often in EUR |
These salaries are estimates: they depend on the employer, the portfolio and how steady the work is.
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
Issouf, 22, a management student at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, is hesitating over a bootcamp at 800,000 FCFA. He starts with level 1 at 25,000 FCFA and publishes his first page within a week. He enjoys it and picks the full track at 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000, already 450,000 FCFA less than the bootcamp. If he then lands a junior developer job at 300,000 FCFA a month in Ouagadougou, his entire training amounts to just over one month of salary, as a 2026 order of magnitude. And had he found out that coding was not for him, he would have spent only 25,000 FCFA.
FAQ
Do I need a computer to start? A computer is better, even an old one. Level 1 takes 6 hours and only requires a browser and a free text editor.
Do I need to be good at math to learn to code? No, web development mostly takes logic and patience. The basics taught in the 6 hours require no advanced math.
Can I find work after level 1? No, this level is for discovering coding and testing your motivation. To aim for a junior job paying 250,000 to 450,000 FCFA a month, you need to continue the track and build a portfolio.
How much is the full track? The 5 levels of the Web development track cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA when taken together. You can also progress level by level.
How do I pay from Burkina Faso? Level 1 enrollment, 25,000 FCFA, is paid with Wave or Orange Money. Access is immediate, with a certificate at the end.
Take the next step. Enroll in Discover code: understand how a website works: 6 h, 25,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy certificate, 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.
