The verdict in three sentences
If you have never written a line of code, start with a short, affordable course that helps you understand the web and publish a real page, before paying 300,000 FCFA or more for a bootcamp. Kolonell Academy's Discover code course costs 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR / 42 USD) for 6 hours, works on a phone from Thiès and tells you honestly whether the job suits you. If it does, the full 5-level track leads to a junior developer profile, earning 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA a month in Dakar in 2026, as a market benchmark.
Why understand before you code
Many beginners in Thiès open a 4-hour YouTube video in English, copy code without knowing where it runs, and give up after a week. The problem is not the code itself: the map is missing. What happens when you type a website address on your phone? Who answers? Where are the files stored?
The course Discover code: understand how a website works, taught in French, answers these questions in order:
- Module 1: a page's journey from your phone to the server (URL, domain name, DNS, HTTP, hosting), then inspecting real Senegalese and Ivorian websites with Chrome's developer tools.
- Module 2: your first HTML page, written by hand in VS Code.
- Module 3: CSS for styling, a line of JavaScript that makes a button respond, and free publishing online.
In total: 3 modules, 13 lessons, 32 graded exercises, a quiz per module and 1 final project, your personal page live at an address you can share on WhatsApp. A certificate you can verify online confirms your success. Lessons are designed for 3G.
What learning to code costs in Thiès in 2026
| Option | 2026 price | Duration | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Academy, level 1 Discover code | 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR) | 6 h, self-paced | published page, verifiable certificate, graded exercises |
| Kolonell Web Development track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 (about 535 EUR) | several months | progression to a junior profile |
| In-person bootcamp in Dakar | 300,000 to 600,000 FCFA | 8 to 16 weeks | classroom supervision, fixed hours |
| Thiès-Dakar transport and housing (estimate) | 60,000 to 150,000 FCFA a month | during the bootcamp | hidden cost often forgotten |
| YouTube videos and free certificates | 0 FCFA | variable | English content, no follow-up, rarely a graded project |
| Private tutoring in Thiès | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA an hour | depending on availability | one-off help, no structured syllabus |
The maths is simple: at 25,000 FCFA, the first level costs less than a week of commuting to Dakar. It works as a test before a bigger commitment.
The Web Development track and what it pays
Discover code is level 1 of the Web Development track. It leads directly into level 2, HTML and CSS, where you go from a single page to a small business's complete website. To be clear: level 1 alone is not enough to charge for development work.
| Stage | What you can do | Possible income (2026 benchmark) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 completed | explain the web, write and publish an HTML page | no direct income, but you know whether the job suits you |
| Level 2 completed | build a showcase website in HTML and CSS | first small sites at 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA for local shops |
| Full track | interactive sites and web applications | junior developer: 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA a month in Dakar |
| Fast-growing start-up | confirmed junior profile | up to 500,000 FCFA a month |
| Time to first income | from zero | often 6 to 12 months of regular practice |
These figures are market benchmarks, not a promise. Income depends on your consistency, your published projects and your ability to find clients or an employer.
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.
Awa, 22, a management student at the University of Thiès, is torn between a Dakar bootcamp and an online course. She has never coded.
- Dakar bootcamp: 400,000 FCFA + 90,000 FCFA a month for transport and housing over 3 months, or 670,000 FCFA committed before knowing whether the job suits her.
- Kolonell level 1: 25,000 FCFA, paid with Wave, completed in the evenings over one week.
At the end of level 1, Awa has published her page and knows she enjoys development. She continues with the full track at 350,000 FCFA. Her total training cost is still 295,000 FCFA lower than the bootcamp option. If, a year later, she lands a junior job at 250,000 FCFA a month, her training is paid back in under 2 months of salary, provided she finds that job, which is never guaranteed.
FAQ
Do I need a computer to take the course?
Lessons can be read on a phone, even on 3G. To write code in VS Code, an entry-level laptop is enough, from 150,000 FCFA second-hand in Thiès.
How long does it take to finish level 1?
The content represents 6 hours. Most learners finish in 4 to 7 days at one hour per evening.
Is the certificate valuable to an employer?
The certificate can be verified online, but your published page matters most. A recruiter looks at what you have built more than at the diploma.
How do I pay from Thiès?
Payment is by Wave or Orange Money, 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR) for level 1. The full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 if you take all 5 levels.
Can I earn money after level 1?
No, and it is better to know it. First income usually comes after level 2, with small sites at 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA, and a junior salary after the full track.
Take the next step. Enroll in Discover code: understand how a website works: 6 hours, 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR / 42 USD), verifiable 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.
