Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday categorically said students of any level should not be lined up to greet any person except the president and prime minister, the heads of the state and government.

There is a clear instruction from the ministry against this, and it was followed in the last five years but recently some over-enthusiasts have re-introduced the practice violating the directives, he said. In order to stop it, the minister sought help of all concerned.

In 2009, the education ministry prohibited the use of students in greeting anyone. But recently, students of BM College in Barisal were forced to queue up to welcome Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu.

Nahid said if any lawmaker, minister or distinguished guest visited any place or institution, they would be greeted by the authorities not students. The minister reiterated the directives at the inaugural ceremony of the 43rd National Winter Sports and Athletics Competition 2014 at Shaheed Abdur Rob Serniabat Stadium in Barisal.

Nahid said infrastructural development in the education sector was not the main goal of the government; it wanted to develop a global standard education system. "So, we should not be satisfied by the achievements of the education sector in the last five years until achieving that standard," he said.

Replying to a question about resuming the screening of Indian version of the cartoon series, Doraemon, after a short recess and its negative impacts on the psychology of the children, the education minister said he would talk about this with the information minister.

Prof Fahima Khatun, director general, directorate of secondary and higher secondary education, presided over the inaugural session.

A total of 672 competitors from 231 educational institutions of the country are taking part in the final round of 35 events in the five-day annual sporting extravaganza.

Farhana Huq, secretary of Bangladesh National School and Madrasa Sports Association, high officials, and local Awami League lawmakers and leaders addressed the programme.