More than 300 students at the Xi'an University of Post and Telecommunications are facing a dilemma should they repeat their last school year or leave and go home?

On Monday, 336 students received a notice from the school authorities recommending they leave the university having failed to get the required credits, according to university sources.

The move was considered quite strict.

School officers said that previously, only students who did not get all the necessary credits within four school years would be told to repeat their last school year . However, now, students who fail to get enough credits at the end of each school year must stay behind to catch up.

"The new measure is aimed at warning each student to pay more attention to their studies," Lu Jianping, a top official with the university, told China Daily yesterday.

Many students at the university have become addicted to online games and other leisure activities and have neglected their studies, Lu said.

According to school regulations, students who need to stay on for another year must pay additional charges of 4,500 yuan (US$562).

"If they do not pay the money or are unwilling to continue their studies, they must leave the school," Lu said.

The move has caused a stir among students.

"It is terrible that so many students are involved in this punishment," said Zhang, a freshman who just gave his surname.

Wang Bo, one of the unlucky group, said: "It was a bolt from the blue. I do not know how to tell my parents, but I have to because I need money for the year," Wang said.

In accordance with the Ordinary College Student Management Regulations issued by the Ministry of Education in September last year, students who do not get enough credits should be told to leave school.

"So, the school's measure is allowed," said Sun Quanxue, deputy director of the College Student Office of the Shaanxi Provincial Education Department.

Han, the mother of one of the 336 students, thought the university was responsible for her son's poor marks.

"The school's poor management should be partially blamed for my son's bad academic performance," Han said.

Editor: Wing