The verdict in three sentences
For a group of 3 private schools in Dakar with 2,800 pupils, an online enrollment platform costs between 8 and 18 million FCFA excl. VAT (about 12,000 to 27,000 EUR) and ships in 3 months, provided work starts by April for an October school year. It replaces August queues with an online application file, a tuition instalment plan payable by Wave or Orange Money and automatic SMS reminders. The gain shows up as lower arrears, often 3 to 6 points of collection rate, and weeks of freed-up office time.
Scope: what parents and the office see
The administrative director lives the same story every summer: 600 to 900 re-enrollments and 400 to 600 new enrollments packed into six weeks, lost birth-certificate copies, handwritten receipts and phone chasing. The platform splits into priceable modules.
| Module | Features | Indicative 2026 cost (FCFA excl. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online application file | Form per level (nursery, primary, middle, high school), attachments, photo, file status | 1,800,000 to 3,500,000 | 3 weeks |
| One-click re-enrollment | Pre-filled data, next-class confirmation, contact update | 800,000 to 1,500,000 | 2 weeks |
| Instalments and payments | Registration fees, monthly or termly fees, Wave, Orange Money, card, PDF receipts | 2,000,000 to 4,500,000 | 4 weeks |
| SMS and WhatsApp reminders | Pre-due-date reminders, arrears, incomplete files | 600,000 to 1,500,000 | 1 week |
| Parent portal | Balance, documents, absences, report cards (option) | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 | 4 weeks |
| Multi-school back office | Dashboards per school, seat management, class lists | 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 | 3 weeks |
| Data migration | Import of current pupils from Excel or old software | 300,000 to 500,000 | 1 week |
An essential version (application, re-enrollment, payments, reminders) lands around 8 to 10 million FCFA excl. VAT. With the full parent portal, report cards and an advanced multi-school back office, the budget reaches 15 to 18 million FCFA excl. VAT.
Running costs
Beyond development, include recurring costs. They stay modest next to a school group's revenue but belong in the budget.
| Recurring item | Basis | Estimated annual cost (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud hosting and backups | Server sized for August peaks | 900,000 to 1,800,000 |
| Reminder SMS | 2,800 pupils × 10 SMS a year × 20 FCFA | 560,000 |
| Mobile money fees | About 1% on Wave, 1 to 1.5% on Orange Money merchant | Depends on volume collected |
| Maintenance and support | 15 to 20% of initial cost | 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 |
| Domain and certificates | Flat fee | 30,000 to 60,000 |
| Training new office staff | 1 session per school year | Included in maintenance |
Mobile money fees can be partly passed on or built into registration fees. Many schools choose to absorb them, since Wave payment sharply reduces late payments.
The 3-month plan: the date that matters
The school year in Senegal starts in October, but re-enrollments open in June. The project must therefore start in March or April. Weeks 1 to 2: scoping with the office and accounting, listing fees per level and discounts (siblings, staff children). Weeks 3 to 9: development. Weeks 10 to 11: testing with 50 pilot families. Week 12: online re-enrollment opens, with an on-site help desk for parents less comfortable with digital tools.
Mini case study
Mr Ndiaye, administrative director of a 3-school group in Dakar (Sacré-Cœur, Mermoz and Ouakam), manages 2,800 pupils with average tuition of 55,000 FCFA per month over 9 months, about 1.39 billion FCFA in annual fees. His year-end arrears rate: 9%.
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He invests 12 million FCFA excl. VAT in the platform, plus 2.5 million a year in running costs. If automatic reminders and Wave or Orange Money payment cut arrears by just 3 points, he recovers nearly 42 million FCFA a year. Add 2 temporary August secretaries no longer hired (about 1.2 million FCFA): the project pays back within the first school year.
FAQ
How much does an online enrollment platform for a private school in Dakar cost?
Between 8 and 18 million FCFA excl. VAT for a multi-school group, depending on modules. A single school with applications, payments and reminders can start around 5 to 7 million FCFA excl. VAT.
Can parents pay with Wave and Orange Money?
Yes, both are integrated with automatic payment confirmation and a PDF receipt. Transaction fees run around 1% on Wave and 1 to 1.5% on Orange Money merchant.
What about parents who do not use the internet?
The office enters the file for them in the same platform, and cash payment remains possible with a system-generated receipt. In practice, 70 to 85% of Dakar families switch to digital by the second year.
When should the project start for the new school year?
By April at the latest, to open online re-enrollment in June. Starting in July leaves too little time to test with pilot families.
Is pupil data protected?
Yes, the platform complies with Senegal's Law 2008-12 on personal data, with role-based access, encryption and daily backups. A filing with the CDP (data protection authority) is required and usually takes 2 to 4 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of schools, pupils and current payment methods, and we will price a platform between 8 and 18 million FCFA excl. VAT delivered in 3 months before the new school year. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
