If a child cannot keep going, they can take leave; the school must keep their enrollment, up to 1 year

Leave of absence has a formal system. Parents or other guardians apply; after the school confirms, it reports upward for approval. One leave lasts at most 1 year; if more is needed when it ends, apply again. During leave the school must keep the child’s enrollment; on return they continue. Exact rules are set by each province — ask the school office or the local education bureau.

Cost

No money. Parents or other legal guardians apply to the school. The hard part is accepting that the child will stop for a while.

Benefit

Article 16 of the Measures for the Administration of Primary and Secondary Student Enrollment Status (中小学生学籍管理办法) sets how leave works. The student takes leave on application by parents or other legal guardians. After the school confirms, it reports to the higher enrollment-status office for approval. On return the school must process the related steps promptly. One application for leave shall not exceed 1 year; if more leave is truly needed when it ends, a new application must be filed. During leave the school shall keep the enrollment status (student identity and place are held). Exact leave and return rules are made by provincial education authorities (nationwide, issued January 2025). Ten Measures to Further Strengthen Mental Health Work for Primary and Secondary Students (进一步加强中小学生心理健康工作十条措施) requires advancing referral of mental illness for medical care and return-to-school mechanisms after recovery, and guiding schools to make plans for sudden campus psychological crises

Notes

In the author’s experience, before applying ask three things: what medical certificate is needed, how enrollment is recorded in the system during leave, and whether return is to the same grade or one grade down. Grade B because conditions for leave, materials to submit, and how return is joined are all set by provincial education departments; the national level only builds a frame. Article 12 of the Regulations on School Protection of Minors (未成年人学校保护规定) also requires compulsory-education schools to keep reporting and filing systems for dropouts, leave, and long absences. So leave is something schools already process, not a special favor for you alone.

Sources · 3

1. 教育部 (2025). 中小学生学籍管理办法（教基〔2025〕1 号，第十六条）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202502/content_70026…
2. 教育部办公厅 (2025). 进一步加强中小学生心理健康工作十条措施（教基厅〔2025〕2 号）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202510/content_70455…
3. 教育部 (2021). 未成年人学校保护规定（教育部令第 50 号，第十二条）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-06/02/content_5…