About Us

A School Built on
Conviction

We know why we exist. Every decision we make — how we teach, who we hire, how we treat children — flows from a clear and deeply held belief about what education should be.

Our Founding Story

Why Shalva Academy Exists

Shalva Academy was born from a simple but powerful belief: that a calm, intentional learning environment changes what children are capable of becoming. Founded with a commitment to raising not just academically excellent children, but confident, grounded human beings ready for life.

After two years of careful planning and building, the school opened its doors in January 2024 at Plot No. ZT62, Baldwin View, Zamtan, Kitwe — with a campus designed from the ground up to reflect the values at the heart of everything we do.

"Shalva" speaks to peace and wholeness — a fitting name for a school that believes the most important thing we can give a child is an environment where they feel genuinely safe to grow.

We are a young school, but not a tentative one. We know what we believe and we are committed to building something that will matter to Kitwe and the Copperbelt for generations.

Mission

What We Do

Delivering quality education, cultivating a peaceful environment, promoting academic excellence, and developing leadership skills for lifelong success.

Vision

Where We're Going

To be the most respected and sought-after private school in Zambia — recognised for producing academically excellent, emotionally secure, and confident young leaders.

Our Philosophy

Unhurried, Intentional Education

There is a kind of schooling that treats childhood as a waiting room — a place children pass through on the way to being examined, graded, and sorted. Shalva Academy is not that kind of school.

We give children time: time to wonder, to struggle productively, to make mistakes and recover from them, to develop at the pace that is right for them. Nothing in our school happens by accident. The way we arrange a classroom, structure a morning, design a lesson — all of it is considered. We are not on autopilot.

This philosophy requires patience. It asks more of our teachers and sometimes more of our families. But what it produces — children who are genuinely curious, genuinely secure, and genuinely capable — is worth every bit of that patience.

"A great lesson at Shalva Academy is not one where the teacher performed well. It is one where the children thought hard, discovered something, and left the room a little different from when they entered."

What This Looks Like Daily

  • Morning mindfulness and circle time in every class
  • Lessons built around questions, not just answers
  • Group work, projects, and hands-on discovery
  • Teachers who know every child by name and character
  • A campus that feels calm, safe, and welcoming
The Three Pillars

What We Stand For

The three words on our crest are not marketing language. They are the daily commitments that every member of the Shalva Academy community — staff, students, and families — holds to.

01

Serenity

A calm, safe space for children and staff alike. Serenity is not the absence of noise — it is the presence of safety. It means children walk through our gates knowing they will not be shouted at, humiliated, or made to feel small. Every policy, space, and interaction is designed to reinforce peace over chaos.

02

Knowledge

Deep, honest, curious learning. We believe children are born curious — our job is to fan that curiosity into something that sustains them for a lifetime. A child who gets something wrong and understands why is ahead of a child who got it right without understanding. We ask why, not just what.

03

Leadership

Character before authority. Leadership at Shalva Academy is not about producing children who give orders. It is about producing people who take responsibility — for themselves, for others, and for the world around them. We instil initiative, integrity, and service from the earliest years.

Patrick Sydney Chikuka
Our Founder

Patrick Sydney Chikuka

Founder & Director

Patrick founded Shalva Academy out of a conviction that the children of Kitwe deserve a school environment that puts their genuine wellbeing at the centre of everything — not just their exam performance.

After years of building and preparation that began in 2022, Patrick opened Shalva Academy's doors in January 2024 with a small, carefully chosen team and a very clear vision. The school is young, but the thinking behind it is not.

"We are still on our journey. We are growing, improving, and finding our full stride. But we know what we are building, and we are not in a hurry to cut corners to get there."
Come and See

Meet Us in Person

The best way to know whether Shalva Academy is right for your child is to visit. Book a tour, attend an Open Day, or simply give us a call.

Enquire About Admissions Get in Touch