The Petroleum Technology Development Fund ( PTDF) has started the selection process for the award of 2018/ 2019 overseas scholars for Masters Degree (Msc) and Doctors of Philosophy programme (PhD).

Mrs Rabi’ah Waziri-Adamu, Manager, Education and Training of the PTDF disclosed this in Abuja on Monday at the interview for shortlisted candidates for the award.

She said that it had modified the style of selection by suspending the conduct of aptitude tests for applicants in the programme.

The Federal Government says only 173 pupils registered for the 2018 national common entrance examination in Zamfara, Taraba and Kebbi states.

Adamu Adamu, minister of education, said the low registration shows that Nigeria’s child education was in need of total reform.

He said a report from a meeting of major stakeholders in the education sector showed that candidates registered in 2018 stood at 71,294 as against 80,421 in 2017.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has released the guidelines and timetable for commencement of registration for the 2018 Batch A prospective corps members. The Corps in a post on its Facebook page said the registration exercise would end on April 8, 2018 stressing that prospective Corps members should adhere strictly to the timetable.

Muslims have criticised the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for allowing part of its examination clash with the Friday Jummat prayer.

In the timetable for 2018 May/June Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), candidates will write Chemistry paper from 2pm to 5pm on Friday, April 20.

The Muslim Friday prayers usually hold between 1:30 pm to 3pm.

The council released the timetable a week ago to principals of various schools to make it available to the students.

The National Council on Establishment (NCE) on Friday announced the approval of an upgraded salary grade level and promotion for engineering graduates in the public service.

The announcement was made at the end of the council’s 40th meeting which held in Owerri, Imo state.

Reading from a statement, Rufus Godwins, head of service Rivers state, said engineering graduates will now receive salary grade level 09 at entry point.

A team of four boys on Thursday defeated a female team of 11 girls in a cooking competition organised by the Holy Family School in Lagos.

The boys’ team was adjudged the winner against the girls’ team after the judges had tasted the dishes prepared by the teams.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the teams prepared fried rice, fried fish and locally prepared ‘Eve’ drink.

However, the girls’ team emerged the winner in the preparation of cassava flake (a.k.a. Eba) and Ogbonno soup, Jollof rice alongside the local drink, Zobo.

The leader of the boys’ team, Edward Akugbe told NAN that the current economic situation had compelled most boys to acquire the cooking skills and other domestic chores.