Severe punishment will be awarded to degree-conferring units if they engage in essay trading and writing services, said a paper issued by the Ministry of Education recently.

It said students who participate in the trading or writing academic essays for others shall be expelled from university, and the degree certificates they have already obtained shall be revoked in accordance with the law.

In recent years, academic cheating has been effectively curbed to some degree, but trading and writing service of academic essays still occur from time to time, causing an adverse effect in the society.

The ministry also asked educational departments at provincial level to strengthen their coordination with local market supervision, public security departments to take prompt measures to control such illegal behaviors.

The degree-conferring units should strengthen academic ethics and integrity, and enhance the examination on the essays' originality by using information technology means.

Teachers should lead students to abide by academic norms, and teachers who engage in academic dishonest shall be held liable for dereliction of duty, said the ministry.