My name is Patson Zulu and I am an upper Key Stage 2 teacher here at Trident Prep Lusaka. I graduated from the University of Zambia with a merit degree in English, Literature and History. Upon completion of my studies, I immediately joined the British International Primary School (BIPS) rising to the post of ‘Primary Coordinator’ while also being a Year 6 teacher. Before BIPS, I interned with Baobab College for a year teaching KS2 and KS3. One of my philosophies around teaching involves getting to know my students very well and making them feel absolutely comfortable to engage with me. I strongly believe positive relationships with my students are just as important as any remarkable teaching planned. I therefore foster a learning environment full of engagement, positivity, a friendly learning atmosphere but all anchored on mutual respect and shared values. In my spare time, I am an avid football, Formula 1 and tennis fan. I love reading novels and my favourite author is Sidney Sheldon. I am a dog lover and I have a range of dog breeds such as a German shepherd, a Jack Russell, a Maltipoo and recently a bull terrier.

My roots lie in Shiwang’andu, nestled in the heart of Muchinga Province, but my upbringing paints a picture of the vibrant streets of Kitwe, the beating heart of the Copperbelt. Here, I proudly hold the titles of husband and father to four wonderful children – one son and three daughters. Music has been my lifelong companion, its melodies weaving through the fabric of my existence since childhood. The echoes of church hymns and the stirring cadences of military bands, resonating from the nearby barracks, shaped my earliest musical aspirations. Despite my deep-seated love for music, the notion of becoming a teacher never crossed my mind until a wise mentor ignited that spark within me. Through the years of honing my craft as a music educator, I realised that teaching music was not merely a profession, but a calling I had unwittingly answered long before formal training. For the past twenty-six years, a significant portion of which was spent nurturing musical talents in Botswana, I’ve had the privilege of guiding young minds aged 3 to 16 in the art of self-expression through song, dance, and the mastery of instruments ranging from drums to keyboards. As a Choral Music Director, composer, and ethnomusicologist, my journey has taken me across international stages, yet none compare to the sheer joy of witnessing the blossoming of musical potential in my students.

A book lover and friend of many a literary author, I developed a reading culture at an early age, reading “The Gulliver’s Travels”, “Oliver Twist”, “The Fool’s Apprentice” and “Don Quixote” among others while still in primary school. Additionally, I found the traditional grammar of the English Language very interesting. I loved French at first encounter in secondary school, and my progress therein was exponential – to the surprise of my teachers. I consumed grammar and short story books from cover to cover throughout my secondary school journey and beyond. If the nobility of a career is measured by its positive impact on humanity, then mine – teaching – is the noblest. When I introduce myself as “Teacher”, I say it proudly. I am a proponent of every child’s right to education and believe that quality education renders its recipient an asset to society.