Mr Mambala Njie, Director for Region Six, died at the Basse Health Centre in the early hours of last Friday.

He had complained of chest burn before he was admitted at the health centre.

A seasoned teacher, the late Mambala Njie did his PTC at Yundum College, HTC at Bunumbu Teacher College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, his BED at the University of Sterling in Scotland, and MED at the University of Leeds UK.

He taught, served as headmaster and rose to the rank of Education Officer, Senior Education Officer, Principal Education Officer and Regional Director for Regions 1, 2, 3 and 6.

Speaking before a large congregation at the Kanifing East Mosque Mr Alpha Khan described Mambala as an educational officer who worked tirelessly to ensure quality deliverables in the education sector. “He was involved in the complex and difficult task of encouraging the Jahankas and Sarahulehs in the URR (Upper River Region) to send their children to school. The DOSBSE will value his position on various issues,” Mr Khan told the congregation.

Alpha Camara officer at Regional Office in Basse who was very close to Mambala Njie professionally and socially described the late Mambala Njie as someone whose entire life was spent in the education sector.

“His interest in children and flexible working relationship made him a renowned figure with accomplished assignments in the sector,” Camara said.

According to him, Mambala’s sudden and untimely death is devastating blow to the educational sector of the country.

He said the late Mambala represented Regional Directors/trees in all official functions and was a member of the teacher supply and performance committee set up by DOSBSE and was part of a four-man committee on the World Bank Impact Assessment in education.

The late Mambala Njie is survived by his wife Mrs Fatoumata Jallow Njie (Yafatou) with five children, two girls and three boys.